COTABATO CITY (Wednesday, September 3, 2025) — Another group of Dawlah Islamiya members and two New People’s Army guerillas had surrendered to military officials and local executives in separate rites in two provinces where they each pledged allegiance to the government.

The 18 violent religious extremists first turned in their combat weapons and explosives to Lt. Col. Christian Cabading, commanding officer of the 92nd Infantry Battalion, and his immediate superior, Brig. Gen. Vladimir Cagara of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, before they renounced their membership with the Dawlah Islamiya during a surrender rite on Tuesday, September 2, at the 92nd IB’s headquarters in Barangay Salbu in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur.

Major Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told reporters on Wednesday, September 3, that the 18 terrorists agreed to return to the fold of law through the joint intercession of Cabading, Cagara and local executives in Datu Saudi Ampatuan and in nearby towns.

Five of the 18 members of the now weakened Dawlah Islamiya are experts in fabrication of improvised explosives, using either Ammonium Nitrate, or Potassium Chlorate as main blasting charges and rigged with electronic blasting contraptions that can be detonated from a distance using mobile phones.

They received food supplies and other essential provisions, which they would need in their return to their respective barangays, from municipal officials and representatives from the Ministry of Public Order and Safety-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao present in the symbolic event at the 92nd IB’s command post in Barangay Salbu.

Units of the 6th ID in different provinces and cities in Central Mindanao had secured the surrender, in batches, of more than 800 members of the allies Dawlah Islamiya and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the past eight months, all of them reintegrated into mainstream society with the help of the Bangsamoro regional government and the line agencies in Region 12.

Two NPA members also surrendered on Monday, September 1, to Lt. Col. Erikzen Dacoco, commanding officer of the 105th Infantry Brigade and Mayor George Falgui of Kiamba municipality in Sarangani province, which is inside 6th ID’s territory.

Gumiran said Falgui had provided the two NPAs with monetary assistance and assured of his support in reintroducing them to mainstream society.

Photo shows the leader of the 18 Dawlah Islamiya terrorists turning over to Cabading and Cagara an M14 assault rifle during their surrender on Tuesday at the 92nd IB’s headquarters.