MUNAI, Philippines, 23 May 2003 — Six commanders and 91 guerrillas claiming to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) surrendered yesterday to the government following fierce air and ground assaults on their hideouts in the southern Philippines.

The MILF immediately disowned the surrenderers, who were presented to Vice President Teofisto Guingona and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes in the southern city of Iligan yesterday.

High-powered firearms, including a 50 caliber machinegun, two 40 caliber machineguns and one-rocket propelled grenade launcher, were displayed by the military on a table as the rebels pledged to follow the Philippine Constitution.

“They were forced to surrender because of the ongoing offensive, and they also want to have a new lease on life,” Press Undersecretary Rocky Nazareno told reporters.

Military officials said more than 100 MILF rebels and 12 soldiers have been killed in nearly a week of fighting in the Lanao area in Central Mindanao.

The military intensified its campaign against the MILF after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered aerial and artillery attacks on “embedded terrorist cells” in the south last Saturday, the eve of her state visit to the United States.

In February, troops overran another rebel stronghold in North Cotabato province and sporadic fighting has erupted since. The military blames the rebels for raids and bombings that have killed at least 210 people this year.

Soldiers have finally dislodged the rebels from their base in Munai town, in Lanao del Norte province, Defense Secretary Reyes said.

“We have successfully eliminated a terrorist cell that emanates from Munai town,” Reyes said. “If the MILF returns to the peace talks, if they will return to the folds of the law, we will welcome them. If they continue to terrorize the civilian population, we will apply the full force of the law.”

The rebels have been fighting for Muslim self-rule in the southern Philippines for more than three decades.

Vice President Guingona, Reyes, and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman visited the town of Munai yesterday.

Reyes said about 20,000 Munai residents who fled the fighting can return home.

Soldiers took control of Munai on Monday. Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko described the town as “the center of terrorist operations” in the province.

Maj. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing, commander of the army’s 4th Infantry Division, said 118 rebels and 12 soldiers were killed in the fighting.

Counterclaim

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu, however, disputed the military’s figures, saying only six guerrillas were killed and more than 10 injured since April 29, earlier than the current offensive. He claimed at least 13 soldiers were killed in fighting Monday.

Neither claim could be confirmed independently. A military report this month showed there were more casualties among police and soldiers than Muslim rebels in clashes from Jan. 1 to May 6, belying their own field reports that scores of guerrillas had been killed.

On the 97 who surrendered, Kabalu told Reuters by phone:.”They are fictitious MILF members.”

In an interview with Arab News, Kabalu said the surrenderers were former members of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) or Nur Misuari, which signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996.

Kabalu said the truth is that many of those presented to Guingona and Reyes yesterday have already surrendered to the government before.

Surrendering “has been a lucrative business for some local politicians in the Lanao areas in connivance with some military commanders who process, and legitimize them, when in reality none of them are legitimate MILF members,” he said.

He identified Mayor Romeo Dipatuan of Bacolod-Kulawi town in Lanao del Sur as the “principal organizer who even recruited some laborers from Marawi City to be able to form this group.”

The surrenderees were led by Elias Abpi, Salahudin Dianga, Mama Sangkupan, Ali Balituk, Saavedra Agila and a certain Sulay.

Elias claimed to be a deputy commander of the MILF’s 307the Brigade.

“They were even using an old military setup which is no longer used by the MILF, indicating that they are not aware of developments in the revolutionary Front,” Kabalu said.

He said it was amusing that the military keeps counting the number of MILF fighters at 12,000 when the number of supposed MILF surrenderers should not reach more than 2,000.

Also yesterday, troops were reported to be pursuing about 400 guerrillas who burned down seven school buildings and the local market in Lanao del Norte. Col. Ernesto Boac, commander of the army’s 401st Brigade involved in the ongoing operation, said the rebels fled toward nearby Lanao del Sur province.

Kabalu said it could not be immediately ascertained who was responsible, suggesting the buildings may have been hit during the military’s continuous aerial and artillery bombardment.