ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga
del Sur, Philippines -- At least four Muslim
separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
combatants, including a high-ranking rebel
leader, have surrendered to authorities in
Basilan province, the military said on Friday.
Colonel Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the
Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade based in the
province, said commander Nuruddin Muddalam of
the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF),
Akram Abdul, Budi Ajihari, and Asdatun Mastalin,
gave up on Thursday after a series of
negotiations involving local leaders and Muslim
clerics.
Ferrer said Muddalam and his men also turned
over their firearms to the military.