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MILF Leader, Men Yield to Philippine Military
Commander Nuruddin Jamiri of the Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and nine of his men surrendered to the military authorities in southern Philippines last week, a TV report said Monday.
The ABS-CBN, biggest TV news network in the Philippines, quoted military spokesman Danilo Servando as saying Monday that the surrenderors also yielded in Basilan province in southernmost part of the country their firearms including M-16, M-14 and AK-47 rifles.
He stressed the surrender of MILF rebels came as a result of President Gloria Arroyo's declaration of a suspension of military operations (SOMO) against the secessionist group to expedite the resumption of stalled peace talks.
A total of 13 MILF rebels have so far yielded in Basilan since the SOMO was declared last month.
On March 4, MILF commander Kintong Janntul and two of his men surrendered to military authorities.
On February 20, President Arryoy ordered ceasefire with the Muslim rebel group to pave the way for resumption of stalled peace talks.
The talks between the MILF and the government collapsed after the military captured almost all the MILF's camps last July.
The peace talks are reportedly hindered by the preconditions set by the rebel group, such as the return of captured MILF camps. The government said the preconditions are unacceptable.
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