COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Interior Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo revealed on Monday that 56 former Moro extremists in Lanao del Sur who surrendered to the government received P1.1 million in livelihood aid as they rejoined the mainstream society.

Sinarimbo said that ex-Dawlah Islamiya and Maute terror group members in Lanao del Sur received an initial financial assistance worth P5,000 and food packs, amounting to P7,500 from the regional government on Sunday.

The BARMM spokesperson said that the distribution was held at the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade in Camp Ranao, Marawi City, through Project TUGON (Tulong ng Gobyernong Nagmamalaskit) of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government.

"The program aims to transition former combatants, who have returned to the fold of the law, back to the mainstream and to ensure that they will not revert to unlawful activities," Sinarimbo said.

Each former rebel will get P20,000, which will be distributed by tranche every month.

Since the launch of Project TUGON in 2020, BIO-BARMM said 132 surrenderers from Maguindanao, 56 from Lanao del Sur, and 53 from Sulu have been profiled and have benefited from the project.