31 MILF men surrender to AFP in Lanao del Norte

31 MILF men surrender to AFP in Lanao del Norte
Source : Manila Bulletin
Thursday, 21 August 2008 23:49





A group of Moro rebels surrendered to the military in Lanao del Norte Wednesday night, four days after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched punitive action against rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for a series of attacks on several barangays in Mindanao.

Army 104th Brigade Chief Brig. Gen. Mark Antonio Supnet said that 31 Moro rebels, led by MILF battalion commander Alvin Cunto, yielded to the 104th Infantry Brigade headquarters in Ma. Cristina, Iligan City

"They went to our battalion commander from the mountains. Hindi na daw nila kaya yung ginagawa nina (Commander) Bravo na pumatay ng civilians," Supnet said in a phone interview.

Supnet said the group had occupied Barangay Lapayan in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, serving as a blocking force against government forces, while MILF’s 102nd Base Command leader Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo killed civilians in the town on Aug. 18.

The military commander added that sub-commander Cuntu, who was based in remote Barangay Rogonan in Iligan City, led six other rebels to the 104th Infantry Brigade headquarters to signify their intent to surrender earlier on Wednesday.

He added that afterwards, government troopers went to Barangay Rogonan to fetch 24 more Moro rebels who left the camp of Bravo, who is now on the run from Army soldiers for committing atrocities in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Saranggani.

"The 31 were presented to Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga Wednesday evening," he said.

Supnet added that the MILF surrenderers said Bravo had ordered the attack on civilian communities in their area if the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the MILF and government peace panel members remained unsigned.

Military spokesman for Mindanao operations Brig. Gen. Jorge Segovia said, "This is definitely a good development beacuse this is an indication that our stepping up of our combat actions against them is causing internal problems in MILF leadership and pressure on their commanders on the ground."

"We also expect more acts of surrender from MILF rebels in the coming days," he added.

The AFP Command Center commander said that the 31 MILF surrenderees are now with Task Force Tabak, the military’s counter-terrorism group in Western Mindanao region, where they are undergoing custodial investigation. (RRR)

31 say they were badly disturbed by their conscience

ILIGAN CITY – As the AFP pressed its hunt against Abdullah Macaapar, known as "Commander Bravo," at least 31 of his followers, including a sub-commander, have surrendered to pursuing combat troops in the jungles of Lanao del Norte.

The 31 followers of "Commander Bravo" were brought to the headquarters of the 104th Infantry Brigade at Maria Cristina here.

The surrenderers, including a 15-year-old, had served as blocking force while civilians were being killed in Lapayan area, Kauswagan town, military official said.

During initial tactical interrogation by the personnel of the 104th Brigade here, the surrenderees said they were "badly disturbed by their conscience" on what they did during Monday’s bloody attack in several areas in the province.

"It seems that they cannot accept the atrocities of their leader," said one of the military officers who conducted the initial investigation.

Brig. Gen. Mark Antonio Supnet, commanding general of the Army’s 104th Brigade ordered his command staff to attend to the immediate needs of the returnees.

The PNP and the AFP are preparing criminal charges against Commander Bravo.

Meanwhile, clearing troops of the 6th Infantry Battallion encountered an undetermined number of heavily armed MILF rebels in Barangay Matilak, Kabuntalan, Shariff Kabunsuan, yesterday.

Maj. Armand Rico, spokesman of the AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMincom), said the troops encountered the 105th Base Command of the MILF before noon. After 30 minutes of shooting, the MILF rebels retreated to a forested area. (MUC)

5 Navy vessels deployed to support troops in Mindanao

Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Ferdinand S. Golez deployed yesterday five Navy vessels, including a patrol gunship, to secure sea approaches in conflict areas in Mindanao.

The Navy gunship, PS-20, is equipped with war weapons and would be very effective in subduing and neutralizing the enemy, Golez said.

The four Navy vessels will deliver supplies to Navymen and Philippine Marines posted in the areas of conflict, monitor the movements of the enemy, and help in evacuating the wounded and other victims.

Navy public information chief Lt. Col. E. Arevalo said the Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Eastern Mindanao headed by Rear Admiral Emilio C. Marayag and Capt. Rosauro Arnel Q. Gonzales,Jr., respectively, have been placed on full alert.

Among the casualties among government troops in the fighting was Lt. Col. Angel Benitez, executive officer (ex-o) of the 102nd Army Brigade. Benitez and his men were on their way to report to Task Force "Tabak" commander Brig. Gen. Hilario Atendido, when they were attacked by MILF rebels in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, early this week.

Benitez was a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1990 and a native of Naguilian, La Union. He is survived by wife Maria Elena Benitez and four children. Elena is a native of Jaro, Iloilo City. (YM)

Loren asks Muslim religious leaders to help in peace efforts

Sen. Loren Legarda asked Muslim religious leaders yesterday to exert moral suasion on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to make an an unequivocal statement condemning the bloody takeover by some of its units of several Lanao del Norte towns.

Legarda said that the surrender of several MILF fighters under the command of two breakaway MILF commanders was a positive development.

"Those who surrendered said their conscience bothered them and they were merely forced to follow the orders of their leaders," said Legarda. "This means there’s hope that these two rogue MILF commanders can be ostracized by even their own men."

An honorary Muslim princess, Legarda called on Filipino ulamas to help achieve peace in Mindanao and the rest of the country by praying for and preaching about the universal concept of brotherly love regardless of social status or religion.

Legarda said the MILF leadership cannot justify the actions of its men in Lanao del Norte by saying they were angered by the scuttling of the MILF’s memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the government.

"The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the setting aside of the MoA for valid reasons. The MILF must understand that the Constitution and other laws of the land must be followed and respected because no one, not one person or one group, is above the law," she stressed.