Saturday, April 29, 2006

50 MILF Rebels Surrender In Lanao Sur

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 29 Apr) At least 50 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters surrendered to the Philippine Army ahead of a scheduled peace talks next month between the government and rebel leaders after a series of negotiations in the southern province of Lanao del Sur in the Muslim autonomous region.

The rebels, led by Daud Sarif, whose nom de guerre is Commander Falcon, handed over more than 50 assorted weapons, including machine guns and M16 automatic rifles, to the military Friday, said Lt. Col. Francisco Simbajon, spokesman for the Army's 4th Infantry Division.

"There will be some more, many MILF rebels are expected to surrender to avail of the government amnesty and start a new life," he said, adding, 1st Lt. Moracaya Macaalin, of the 26th Infantry Battalion, negotiated the rebels' surrender.

Sarif is the leader of the MILF's 206th Bade Command in the province, he said.

The military earlier said 2 MILF soldiers, under the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces operating in eastern Mindanao, voluntarily surrendered to the 60th Infantry Battalion in Compostela Valley province. They also surrendered two M16 automatic rifles.

Last month, the military said at least 50 MILF rebels, led by Pendi Ampatuan and Ismael Pagiloyen, also surrendered in Maguindanao province, a known rebel stronghold. It said the rebels pledged their allegiance to the government.

But Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, disputed the military's claim, saying, those who surrendered were former fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front which signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996.

Peace talks are expected to resume next month in Malaysia, which is brokering the negotiations.

Government and rebel negotiators are likely to discuss minor details on the issue of the so-called Muslim ancestral domain. The two groups reached an agreement in February on the ancestral domain, which refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland.

The MILF said government and rebel peace negotiators have already agreed on several crucial issues, including the coverage of the ancestral domain in the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.

And other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.

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