ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities reported that four individuals believed to be members of the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group surrendered to soldiers in Lanao del Sur and turned over their respective high-powered firearms.

32nd Infantry Battalion commander Lt Col. Edmond Lanzar reported on Thursday that the four DI-MG insurgents surrendered to the 32nd IB after a series of negotiations for their surrender.

Lanzar identified the four former DI-MG warriors through their aliases as Mickey, Butongo,  Salim and Amano. They are currently undergoing tactical debriefing at the headquarters of the 32nd IB in Lanao del Sur.

AFP-Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo said that the events the people of Mindanao are witnessing from the snowball of surrenders brings gratification to the officers, men and women on the ground.

"We guarantee the safety and means of living for all those who chose to end their armed struggle," said Crespillo. "But we will not rest on our laurels but rather intensify further our military operations to neutralize all those who refuse to walk with us on the path toward lasting peace and sustainable development here in Mindanao."

Meanwhile, soldiers of the 3rd  Scout Ranger Battalion recovered a firearm, a Cal 7.62mm AK47 rifle in an arms cache of the New People's Army in  the forested areas of Barangay Lumba-Bayabao in Lanao del Sur on Sunday.

The soldiers were able to locate the firearms through the revelation of two former rebels who are currently under the custody of the 103rd  Infantry Brigade in Marawi City.

According to soldiers of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, the arms cache belonged to the Sub-Regional Committee 5 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.