Four MILF members yield in Manila

By Ronron
September 14, 2007

Four members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) surrendered last Thursday to Army troopers in Tondo, Manila City in time for the start of the holy Islam month of Ramadan, officials said yesterday.

Philippine Army Civil Military Operations (CMO) Battalion commander Col. Ricardo Visaya said the four, who used to belong to the 2nd Battalion, 201st Infantry Brigade of the MILF, gave up “in time with Ramadan, to observe peace.”

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. identified them as Camisa Baguilan, alias jaron, 38, the battalion commander; Bombay Dagandal, 27; Abolia Tagay, 25; and, Rodin Pagabangan, 25.

They surrendered to the joint personnel of the 1st Community Development Company under Maj. Nelson dela Cruz at Baseco Compound, Visaya said.

Torres said the four also surrendered one M16 rifle with one long magazine; a shotgun with two live ammunition; one Thompson with one magazine; and, two caliber 45 pistols with two magazines and 14 rounds of ammunition.

Visaya said the four had been in Manila since 2002, hoping to rest from violence after being involved in several fighting in Maguindanao.

He said the four claimed to have other companions in Metro Manila and there are efforts now to convince them to surrender as well.

Visaya said the four initially claimed to have no links with the Jemaah Islamiyah or the Rajah Solaiman Movement, but authorities are validating it. The same thing is being done if they have existing cases in court.

The four also claimed to have no plans of launching violence in the metropolis.

“After their fighting in Maguindanao, they wanted to rest so they hid anywhere, like Baseco, Cavite and Quezon City… They said their source of living here is from being pedicab drivers,” Visaya said.

Visaya said the four will be paid for the firearms they surrendered, under the “Balik-Baril Program.”

He said the surrender of the four is one of the tangible positive results of the deployment of soldiers in Metro Manila, which started in November last year. “You could see here their trust for our men,” said Visaya.

The four are currently under the custody of the CMO battalion for custodial debriefing.

A few months ago, nine Moslem rebels also surrendered to the CMO troops in Tondo./DMS