Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has ordered military commanders to make their checkpoints nationwide bomb-proof, while security authorities continue to chase Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the marsh-dotted province of Maguindanao.
Military sources said rebel fighters had abandoned their comrades in the area due to what they called repeated setbacks from the military onslaught.
There are 24 BIFF rebels who have surrendered since Thursday to military authorities, declaring there are no more reasons for them to fight the government.
Six BIFF rebels from the Liguasan March under the faction of Gani Saligan, a notorious rebel in South-Western Liguasan but presently at large, voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Central Mindanao.
Among the BIFF fighters to surrender was Dido Malawan, 46, Deputy Brigade Commander of the BIFF’s 2nd Division.
As the fighting went on against the BIFF, the 33rd Infantry Battalion and the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion continued to assist communities in the completion of the P2-million electrification in collaboration with the Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative for the Midpandacan village in Maguindanao.
Parallel to it, the Army also refurbished a school abandoned for three years due to perennial fighting among rival clans.
“There are no more reasons for us to fight the government. The soldiers have solved our problems such as the Rido, and helped our village see the light through the electrification project,” Malawa declared.