Rebels surrender in southern RP<\/p>\n
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (DPA): A top commander and 24
\nfollowers belonging to the largest rebel group seeking a separate
\nstate in the southern Philippines have surrendered to the
\nmilitary, an official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Capt. Salih Indanan, spokesman of the Armed Forces Southern
\nCommand, said the rebels, headed by Commander Tarsila Balani,
\nwere part of the armed wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
\n(MILF) in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometers south of Manila.<\/p>\n
Balani's group was the second batch of MILF fighters who
\nsurrendered to the military in a week. The first group was led by
\nAbdul Racman Mansawi, chief of religious affairs for the Bangsa
\nMoro Islamic Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
The MILF, which boasts 120,000 regular fighters and some
\n300,000 militiamen, has been holding exploratory peace talks with
\nthe government since 1996. The two have signed a cease-fire
\nagreement but it has been frequently violated with bloody clashes
\nover conflicting territorial claims.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rebels-surrender-in-southern-rp-1447893297",
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