ZAMBOANGA CITY – A bomb-maker of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)-Karialan faction have withdrew support to the group and surrendered to government authorities in North Cotabato, military officials announced Monday.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the BIFF bomb-maker surrenderee as Tong Ayob Dubpalig alias Ruben, 57, a resident of Sitio Dryer, Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap, North Cotabato.
Vinluan said that Dubpalig has yielded a caliber .50 Barret Sniper rifle and an improvised bomb when he surrendered around 10 a.m. Saturday to the troops in Barangay Salunayan, Midsayap, North Cotabato.
“This is a good development in our campaign against terrorism in central Mindanao. With the support of the partners and stakeholders, we hope that more terrorists will decide to join us in the path towards peace and development here in Mindanao,” Vinluan said.
Brig. Gen. Roberto Capulong, 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, said that Dubpalig was involved in a series of bombing incidents in Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces.
Capulong added that Dubpalig is a follower of the late Mando Mamalumpong, the former commander and spokesperson of the BIFF-Karialan faction. Mamalumpong was killed in a clash with government troops in Midsayap, North Cotabato in 2019.
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Central commander, has commended the troops of the 34th Infantry Battalion and 602nd Infantry Brigade for facilitating the surrender of Dubpalig.
“This will surely weaken the group’s capability to conduct traitorous acts of terrorism, which is their current strategy to counter the intensified operations of our troops,” Uy said.
Lt. Col. Edgardo Vilchez, Jr., 34th Infantry Battalion commander, said that Dubpalig is currently undergoing custodial debriefing at his headquarters.
A total of 60 BIFF militants have already surrendered in Central Mindanao since January this year. – Nikolai Gonzalo
