‘Be cautious on Pentagon man’s surrender feelers’

The Armed Forces warned the government yesterday against accepting the surrender feelers of a leader of the "Pentagon" kidnap-for-ransom gang accused of abducting Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni and other people in Mindanao.

This, as Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina confirmed that the Pentagon leader, indeed, sent a letter to President Arroyo dated Jan. 18, expressing his desire to give himself up.

While Lina did not identify the Pentagon leader, the military identified him as Faisal Marohomsar.

"We have to be cautious in receiving surrender feelers because he has been linked to the abduction of Fr. Pierantoni," said military spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan.

Adan, however, dared Marohomsar to "show his sincerity" by helping in the rescue of the Italian priest who was seized last Oct. 17 in his parish residence in Dimataling, Zam—boanga del Norte.

In his five-page letter coursed through Lina, Marohomsar said he and his 60 followers are willing to give themselves up if the Arroyo administration will provide them a livelihood and housing program.

Marohomsar said he has sought the help of former Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Nasser Marohomsalic to broker their surrender.