130 MILF rebels surrender in Southern Philippines

• Source: Xinhua
• [11:44 July 07 2009]
• Comments

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro accepted the formal surrender last Saturday of 130 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) followers in the southern province of Lanao del Norte, according to a press release by the Philippine Defense Department Monday.

Incessant combat operations conducted by the Philippine Army in Lanao del Norte led to the surrender of the rebels, said the defense chief during a ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the province held in Tubod municipality.

"The number one problem in the Lanao provinces is peace. We have to hunt down those who undertake criminal activities. But more important, we have to bring them back to the fold of the law. That is our priority," Teodoro said.

Teodoro reiterated that peace negotiations with the MILF, a Muslim terrorist group located in the southern Philippines, should be anchored on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-integration policy of the government.

Without disarmament, Teodoro emphasized, peace will still be fragile since the prevalence of firearms in the area could still lead to atrocities against soldiers and civilians, especially children.

The defense chief exhorted the local executives to initiate the peaceful surrender of other MILF renegade followers so that they can return to the mainstream of society. The government will still keep its open-door policy to resolve conflicts in Lanao del Norte and elsewhere in Mindanao, Teodoro said.   and to create nearly two million "green jobs" over the next five years, the presidential office said Monday.