COTABATO CITY, Dec. 2 -- Eleven former combatants, including nine from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and two from Dawlah Islamiyah, surrendered to the Army in Maguindanao del Norte on Monday.

The individuals turned in 15 high-powered firearms, including two 60mm mortar tubes and three sniper rifles, during a ceremony at the First Brigade Combat Team headquarters in Sultan Kudarat.

"We want to be with our family and loved ones away from relentless military manhunt operations," one returnee, Alias Dens, said in a n interview on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Florencio Zambo Taguba Jr., commander of the 6th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, welcomed the former extremists, who wore shirts reading "Bagong Simula, Bagong Pag-asa" (New Beginning, N...