MILF commanders sending surrender feelers, says military

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — The military has been receiving persistent "surrender feelers" from supposedly loyal followers of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Hashim Salamat who are affected by the reported worsening rifts among the front’s top leaders.

Lt. Col. Franklin Del Prado, civil-military relations chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said he and his deputy, Maj. Onting Alon, have been receiving text messages from MILF commanders, who identified themselves as Salamat’s followers, signifying their desire to avail themselves of the government’s reconciliation program.

One of the commanders told Alon, who is a Muslim, that they are apprehensive about the possible impact on their respective groups of the "divisions" between Maguindanaon and Ma—ranaw MILF leaders, who have been squabbling for key positions following Salamat’s death last year.

Del Prado said they began receiving the surrender feelers after Malacañang dropped last month the criminal cases against key MILF leaders in connection with last year’s bombings in Davao City.

"We have surmised, from their feelers, that they are convinced of the sincerity of the government in helping secessionist forces live peaceful lives in their respective communities," Del Prado said.

Last Tuesday, Omar Tekuken, a known henchman of Salamat, and his 90 followers pledged allegiance to the government and vowed to help develop their impoverished communities.

Tekuken, who belonged to the MILF’s 504th Command Unit, said Col. Isagani Cachuela, commander of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, and Maj. Gen. Raul Relano of the 6th Infantry Division convinced them to return to the fold of the law.

Tekuken admitted that his group was behind the toppling of power transmission lines in North Cotabato as "diversionary attacks" at the height of the military offensive in the Buliok complex in February last year.

The once impregnable 3,000-hectare Buliok complex at the boundary of Pagalungan, Maguindanao and Pikit, North Cotabato, is now a "peace zone" guarded by the Second Marine Brigade and a contingent of the police Special Action Force from Camp Crame.