Seven Dawlah Islamiya members surrender in North Cotabato

Seven more members of the extremist group Dawlah Islamiya surrendered to local officials and military leaders in Midsayap, North Cotabato on Tuesday, January 28.

Brigadier General Donald Gumiran, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said that their surrender was due to the efforts of Mayors Rolly Sacdalan and Anwar Saluwag along with senior Army officials.

The Dawlah Islamiya and its ally, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), have been linked to numerous deadly bombings and attacks on buses and businesses in Central Mindanao.

During a surrender ceremony at Midsayap's local government social hall, the seven individuals handed over weapons including two M14 assault rifles, an M1 Garand rifle, M79 grenade launchers, and improvised explosive devices before pledging allegiance to the government.

The ongoing surrenders mark part of a larger trend with more than 400 Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF members turning themselves in since December 2023.