At least 39 members of the communist terrorist group Dawlah Islamiya have returned to the fold of law through the 5th Special Forces Battalion of the 1st Mechanized Brigade, Philippine Army, in 2023. Twenty-eight of them were presented to South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. on November 28. (Photo: Danilo Doguiles/PIA Region 12)
KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) — Yearning to be able to live freely and peacefully has led at least 39 members of the Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terrorist group to return to the fold of the law in 2023, barangay and army officials here said.
Twenty-eight former members of the DI were presented to South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. on November 28.
Speaking on behalf of the surrenderees, Basit Nilong, barangay chieftain of Lapu, Polomolok, said most of them were encouraged by the positive experience of four former colleagues after they surrendered to the 5th Special Forces Battalion in January.
“Noong nakita nila ang magandang resulta ng ginawa nitong apat at saka malaya na rin sila, na-engganyo na rin itong iba na lumabas [When they saw the good results of what their former comrades did and that they are now free, they were also motivated to come out],” Nilong said.
Eleven more DI members surrendered in October and 24 in November, based on the data presented by the 5th SF Battalion.
Lt. Col. Carlyleo Nagac, 5th SF commander, said the former Islamic militants operated under the Maguid faction of the Dawlah Islamiya.
“Marami sa kanila sinasabi, hindi naman talaga nila habol ‘yong mga material benefits per se. Ang gusto lang talaga nila ay peace of mind, ‘yong malaya silang nakakagalaw nang hindi sila natatakot. ‘Yon yong primary reason nila [Many of them say they are not really after material benefits per se. All they really want is peace of mind, so they can move freely without being afraid. That’s their primary reason],” Nagac said.
Nagac is confident the government’s convergent efforts will lead to the eventual breakdown of the communist terrorist group.
“Through the efforts of our security forces with the PNP, tuluy-tuloy nating napapababa ‘yong number nila [we continue to reduce their number]. Itong DI Maguid, we are hopeful na finally ma-declare na talagang dismantled na sila [We are hopeful to finally declare DI Maguid as a dismantled group],” Nagac said.
“Sa pagtutulungan natin, kukumbinsihin natin ang natitira pa–mangingilan na lang sila–na talagang magbalik-loob na rin kasi tutulungan naman talaga sila ng gobyerno [By working together, we will convince the rest—there are only a few of them– to really return to the fold of law because the government will really help them],” he added.
Brig. General Andre Santos, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade, said this success speaks of the government “winning the war not through the force of arms.”
“This just goes to show na sila po sir, marami sa kanila ang pinili na bumalik sa tahimik na buhay [many of them chose to return to the quiet life]. Hopefully, mas marami pa silang mahikayat na sumunod sa kanilang mga yapak at magsurender na rin [they can convince more of their comrades to follow them and surrender],” Santos said.
Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. assured the former CTG members that they could avail of services from the provincial government, including free hospitalization and free education, just like any other resident of South Cotabato. (Photo: Danilo Doguiles/PIA Region 12)
Meanwhile, Gov. Tamayo assured the former rebels that they could avail of services from the provincial government, including free hospitalization, free education, and other support, just like any other South Cotabateño.
“Makakaasa kayo na hangga’t nandiyan ako, hindi ko kayo pababayaan sa anumang pagsubok na haharapin ninyo at ng pamilya ninyo [You can count on me that as long as I’m here, I won’t abandon you in whatever situation you and your family face],” Tamayo said, reassuring the former rebels.
Sonia Bautista, provincial social welfare and development officer, said the former rebels will undergo a 10-day de-radicalization and 45-day stay-in training and sessions at the provincial government’s halfway house and will be enrolled in the national government’s Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
Under the ECLIP, a former rebel will receive financial and livelihood assistance, as well as remuneration for firearms surrendered.
Bautista added that, apart from the P20,000 in financial aid and family food packs, the provincial government will also provide legal assistance to the former rebels. (DED edited by CTA, PIA SOCCSKSARGEN)
