Maguindanao del Norte — July 1, 2025 — Three alleged members of the Dawlah Islamiya and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) voluntarily surrendered to a unit of the Philippine Marines on Tuesday, marking another development in the government’s ongoing campaign to end local terrorism.
Reports from the 1st Marine Brigade and the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division confirmed that the three local terrorists reached out — with the help of local officials — to the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 (MBLT-2) and pledged to abandon their armed struggle. They also vowed to support the unit’s peace and security initiatives in the region.
MBLT-2 operates in the municipalities of Barira, Matanog, and Parang, as well as parts of Sultan Mastura and Sultan Kudarat — all within the province of Maguindanao del Norte. The Marine units in the area are under the operational control of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
Prior to their formal surrender, the three individuals turned over their firearms and explosives to MBLT-2 authorities. These included two 60mm mortars, a B-40 rocket launcher, and several improvised explosive devices (IEDs). They later took an oath of allegiance to the government in a ceremony facilitated by military personnel.
According to the former rebels, they had been constantly moving through remote areas of Barira to evade MBLT-2’s extensive anti-terror operations.
In separate statements issued Thursday, Brigadier General Romulo Quemado, Commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, and Major General Donald Gumiran, Commander of the 6th Infantry Division, thanked the residents of Barira and local leaders for their crucial role in persuading the three individuals to surrender peacefully.
Military officials reaffirmed their commitment to assisting former combatants who wish to reintegrate into society and contribute to long-term peace efforts in Mindanao.