FOUR MEMBERS of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were arrested by government forces on Oct. 17 in a dawn raid in General Salipada K Pendatun, Maguindanao. The military’s 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) Battalion (33IB) reported that the suspects “offered no resistance” when armed soldiers and policemen stormed their hideouts to serve the arrest warrant against Datu Parido Balabagan, also known as Commander Banog of the BIFF. Commander Banog, along with eight of his men, evaded arrest by using a secret passage behind the compound where he was hiding. Lt. Col. Harold M. Cabunoc, 33IB commaner, identified the suspects as Ronex Langalen, 47; Anwar Abdullah, 26; Allakbar Sekung, 20; and Renante Milan, 37. They were handed over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the legal cases that would be filed against them. The BIFF is a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a peace deal with the government that paved the way for the new Bangsamoro Organic Law.
LANAO DEL SUR
Meanwhile, two members of the extremist Maute group surrendered in Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur afternoon of Oct. 16, the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) reported. Mubarak Dimasangkay Bassit and Alinok Muntik, who were part of the group that attacked the military’s Barangay Pantar detachment during the Marawi siege last year, yielded to Lt. Col. Ian Noel P. Ignes, commanding officer of the 55th IB, which is part of Joint Task Force (JTF) Ranao. WesMinCom said 10 Maute “remnants” have surrendered to JTF Ranao this month. “It is but more fulfilling to end terrorism without a single bloodshed,” said Lieutenant General Arnel B. Dela Vega, WesMinCom chief. “We hope that more bandits will decide to surrender instead of engaging in armed confrontations,” he added.

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