80 grenades, firearms turned over to Army in Lanao del Sur

COTABATO CITY — Eight local militants surrendered combat weapons, including 80 grenades and a B40 rocket launcher, to the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion during a symbolic turnover ceremony in Barangay Matalin, Malabang, Lanao del Sur, on Saturday, February 7.

Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, told reporters on Monday, February 9, that the group surrendered and pledged to reform for good during the event, with the joint support of officials from the 64th Infantry Battalion, the 101st Infantry Brigade, and local leaders, including Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr.

Adiong, as governor, serves as the presiding chairperson of the multi-sector Lanao del Sur Provincial Peace and Order Council.

The eight former members of the now-defunct Dawlah Islamiya, who turned in three M1 Garand rifles, three 9mm KG-9 machine pistols, 80 fragmentation grenades, and a B40 rocket launcher, have asked officials of the 64th Infantry Battalion and the 101st Infantry Brigade, which cover Lanao del Sur’s 39 towns and its capital, Marawi City, to help reintegrate them into mainstream society through WestMinCom’s reconciliation program for violent religious extremists.

All eight have admitted to collecting money from owners of passenger vehicles and stores on behalf of their commanders, threatening to use improvised explosive devices if the owners did not cooperate.

Since 2024, at least 337 members of the Dawlah Islamiya, a group criticized by moderate Muslim preachers for promoting intolerance toward non-Muslims, have surrendered in batches to units of the 101st Infantry Brigade and the Police Regional Office in the province.