6 MILF rebels in MM surrender

Six members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Metro Manila have surrendered to authorities, police and military officials reported yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa, chief of the Armed Forces National Capital Region Command, identified the rebels who yielded as Salik Kusain, Ams Kamin, Ibrahim Malacao, Amed Mayang, Nurodin Naga and Suwaib Reposumonsang.

Mesa and Metro Manila police spokesman Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia presented the six rebels to the media during the Talakayan sa Isyu ng Pulis (TSIP) at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.

He said the six also surrendered their firearms that include two M16 rifles, a Thompson sub-machine gun, two .38 caliber revolvers, and a home-made shotgun.

Mesa said the surrender of the guerrillas, who belonged to the MILF special operations group, had reduced the security threat in the metropolis.

He could not give additional information about the background of the surrendered rebels, saying only that the rebels were convinced to return to the fold of the law.

Mesa clarified that those who surrendered did not have any link with the suspects in the bombing at the House of Representatives, which killed four people, including Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar.

Police have arrested four persons in connection with the Batasan complex blast, including Hajaron Jamiri, a former mayor of Tuburan, Basilan, who is now detained at the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).