March 11, 2025 – Five members of the Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) Hasan Group surrendered to government forces at the Headquarters of the 90th Infantry (BIGKIS-LAHI) Battalion in Brgy. Kabengi, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur. They turned over five high-powered firearms as part of their return to the fold of the law.
The surrenderers were identified as Humidi Salipudin, Jonathan Kamsa, Durham Angas, Nurhan Saptulah, and Salahudin Saptulah. They were formally presented by Lieutenant Colonel Loqui O. Marco, Commanding Officer of the 90IB, to Brigadier General Edgar L. Catu, Commander of the 601st Infantry (UNIFIER) Brigade, at the brigade headquarters in Brgy. Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.
Also present at the ceremony were Colonel Ruben G. Aquino, Assistant Division Commander of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID); Lieutenant Colonel Roden R. Orbon, Commanding Officer of the 6th Civil-Military Operations Battalion (6CMOBN); Police Major Jocyviel Zamora, Officer-in-Charge of Ampatuan Municipal Police; and Police Captain Albert G. Pansoy, Chief of Police of Datu Hoffer Municipality.
The surrendering former rebels received immediate assistance from various government agencies, including cash aid, rice, agricultural products, and a single motorcycle. These were provided by the provincial government of Maguindanao del Sur, represented by Atty. Joy Torreña; the local government of Datu Hoffer, led by Mayor Bai Bongbong M. Ampatuan; the LGU of Ampatuan, represented by Basit Langkap; the Ministry of Public Order and Safety, represented by Ms. Janine Gamao; and Vice Governor Nathaniel S. Midtimbang of Maguindanao del Sur.
Brigadier General Catu expressed his gratitude to the local government units, the Ministry of Public Order and Safety, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for their support in reintegrating former combatants into society.
“I commend the troops of the 90IB, especially those conducting the Mobile Community Support Sustainment Program (MCSSP), for their success in persuading armed members of the DI-HG to surrender and giving them a chance to live peacefully with their families,” BGen. Catu stated. He also encouraged other rebels to follow suit and embrace peace.
Major General Donald M. Gumiran, Commander of the 6ID and Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), emphasized that the surrender of former DI members is a victory for peace in their communities. “The surrender of our brothers, who were victims of misguided beliefs, is a success for their families and communities. This achievement reflects the power of unity and collaboration among government troops, local government units, and other stakeholders,” he said.
MGen. Gumiran also praised the 601st Brigade and the 90IB for their dedication and urged them to maintain strong relationships with local communities while respecting their religious and cultural traditions.
