4 MILF commanders surrender in Marawi City

They have laid down their arms and returned to the fold.

Some 308 Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels led by four MILF commanders surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in simple rites in Marawi City Thursday.

The four MILF commanders were identified by the AFP as Bacat Gadia, Khaldon Batabor, Abdullah Dimasangkay and Amer Pangandaman Bantac.

Batabor, alias Khaldon Muslim, used to be the battalion commander of the MILF 1st Battalion Brigade of the BIAF. Dimasangkay, alias Kumander Papas, commanded the MILF Internal Security Force of the BIAF’s 308th Brigade operating along the boundaries of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces.

Gadia, alias Commander Omar Moctar, headed the Ranao Norte Revolutionary Command which moved around the two provinces of Lanao. Pangandaman, alias Kumander Bantac, was the long-serving commander of the BIAF Internal Security Force’s 1st Battalion.

Gadia led 78 followers in surrendering 55 firearms and two explosives. Batabor was accompanied by 38 followers and surrendered 27 firearms. Dimasangkay brought with him 70 MILF fighters and surrendered 33 firearms. Pangandaman, the oldest of the surrendering commanders, led 122 MILF fighters and gave up 99 firearms and two explosives.

"We are tired of running and hiding from government troops. We want peace," Pangandaman said through an interpreter. He had been fighting the government for over 30 years, since the days of the Barracuda freedom fighters that spawned the Muslim separatist movement in Mindanao. Pangandaman’s wife is a public school teacher in Marawi City.

In his welcome remarks to the former rebels, AFP chief Gen. Benjamin Defensor said, "You did not really surrender. You have joined in the fight of the government to build a strong republic."

Southern Command Chief Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina said, "I am glad that more and more of the local officials and government leaders are recognizing the rebels to be their own constituents. More and more former rebels are acknowledging the sincerity of our government to provide them with a better chance at life."

By returning to the mainstream of society, the former rebels have availed themselves of the benefits due them under the Balik-Baril program of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the AFP. Each M-14 OR M-16 rifle was redeemed by the government for P18,000. Each rebel was also given immediate financial assistance of P2,500 in cash and P12,500 in livelihood assistance.

"The rebels did right by choosing the means to live over the path to die. I urge all other rebels to follow so we could march together as comrades for peace and development," AFP Civil-Military Operations chief Brig. Gen. Pedro Cabuhay said.

The firearms, ammunition and explosives surrendered by the former rebels were all in good condition, the military said in a statement. They included B40 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs)/rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), caliber .60 machine guns, .40 mm Uzis, M79s, caliber .45 Thompson pistols, caliber .38 revolvers, 81 mm tubes, 60 mm. tubes, AK-47 assault rifles, M-16 rifles, 12-gauge shotguns, Springfield rifles, M1 Garand rifles, caliber .50 HMGs, Ingram machine pistols, hand grenades and other munitions.

The military credited the mass surrender of the MILF rebels to the continuous yearlong efforts of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade to bring MILF rebels back to the fold with the help of the local government and outlying communities. – Lino de la Cruz