Philippine Separatist Group Disowns ‘Recycled Surrenderers’

KIDAPAWAN CITY, 8 September 2004 — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday said the group of supposed separatist rebels who surrendered on Monday to the military were not its members.

Monday’s surrender ceremony was attended by Maj. Gen. Raul Relano, chief of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, in Carmen town of North Cotabato.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said that most of men were actually “recycled surrenderees” who once belonged to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) group of Nur Misuari. He said they had already surrendered in the past to government forces.

Kabalu said only a few, including Commander Marco Onsay and 10 of followers, were at one time members of the 6th Brigade of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

But the brigade type of military organizations has long been abandoned by the BIAF and that Commander Onsay has no more valid connections with the BIAF-MILF.

“In fact, he has already associated himself with the MNLF in the Malmar area, having been a recipient of government projects in the same area,” he said.

Kabalu said it was public knowledge that Datu Kamsa and Kente Matalam, among the leaders of those who surrendered, had already twice given themselves up to the government. The latest of this surrenders was made at the height of military offensive in Buliok last year, he said.

He said what is surprising is why they trumpeted the surrender only on Monday when it was actually done as early as August 21.

Kabalu also said they have information that the surrenderers are now quarreling among themselves over the firearms they borrowed and surrendered in order to collect money being offered by the government.

Things went awry for the surrenderers when the military commander in the area reportedly rfused to release the firearms.

The MILF had repeatedly disparaged the surrender of its supposed members as a part propaganda on the part of the military in hopes of destroying the morale of separatist fighters. The other motivation is to claim money offered by the government, it said.