MILF fighters yield to PNP authorities

Nine combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) headed by a ranking leader of the secessionist group surrendered to government authorities in Mindanao yesterday.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., said the surrender of Commander Datu Odin Dumpao and eight of his men was facilitated by local police and military troops together with government officials in Central Mindanao. Dumpao is the field commander of the MILF’s 206th Brigade under the overall command of a certain Commander Amelil Umbra Kato.

The MILF outfit operates in areas of Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano, Sultan sa Barongis and Amputuan in Maguindanao.

Aside from him, Dumpao also brought along with him his trusted men, identified as Abner Ranakan, Torex Gulalodin, Koma Gumana, Abdul Buday, Dally Dumpao, Benny Mohammad, Lucman Dumpao and Mads Angeles. The group yielded a caliber .45 pistol, two M-14s, four cal .30 Garand rifles, an M-79 grenade launcher, and one rocket-propelled grenade when they surrendered to the police and military officials at the Regional Police Office 12 in Central Mindanao.

Ebdane said they are now under the custody of the Police Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) of the Central Police Mindanao police office.