MILF leader in Lanao del Norte surrenders to Army

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / February 13)—A top-ranking officer of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) surrendered to the Army here Thursday with the facilitation of municipal officials of Pantaoragat of Lanao del Norte.

Hadji Ali Batua Gandamatu, MILF's political affair officer in Lanao del Norte also surrendered his MP9 rifle attached with a silencer to Col. Benito de Leon, commanding officer of the 104th Infantry Brigade based in Ditucalan of this city.

The Army said Gandamatu was responsible in providing financial support to the MILF in the province, February 12 around 6 p.m.

The Army said that Gandamatu "defected" from MILF and first surrendered to Pantaoragat's municipal Mayor Eleanor Lantud, who also enforced a localized policy of "sanitizing her town of rebels' presence."

Lantud said that Gandamatu surrendered "because of difficulties of life in-a-run and have decided to return to our town to live peacefully."

Gandamatu was also identified as "chairperson of Saber-sa-Radapan province based on MILF's political map". He is 55 years old.

De Leon said "Gandamatu swear on a Koran not to involved himself again to any MILF-related activities."

He said the Army was also happy that local officials contributed in sustaining peace in the area. "Apparently, his surrender will significantly reduce financial support to MILF," he said.

"There is no use of putting him inside a stockade to give him a free hand to encourage others to surrender," he added.

Gandamatu was accompanied by his family and relatives when he surrendered to the brigade at 6:00 pm. De Leon said he was "free and can roam around in liberty".

He is will regularly monitored by Pantaoragat's municipal police office.

De Leon declined to divulge the name of ten other MILF rebels who surrendered February 3 "to protect their families from any harm because they are now involved in the manhunt to locate commander Abduhraman Macapaar a.k.a. Bravo". [More at Mindanews]