Rebels Give In to Philippine Gov't
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines
(AP) - More than 600 Muslim rebels, including a commander, surrendered Thursday in a
ceremony led by Philippine President Joseph Estrada.
Estrada urged the remaining
guerrillas to resume peace talks with the government. The talks were suspended June 30.
``We must resolve our
differences through peaceful means because fighting among ourselves will never bring any
good to either one of us,'' he said.
Estrada stood on a grandstand
as he led the 609 former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, most still wearing
camouflage uniforms with rebel insignias, in pledging allegiance to the government. In
front of the stage was a long table with more than 400 firearms that belonged to the
rebels.
The surrendering guerrillas
were led by Malupandi ``Commander Lupay'' Cosain, a former provincial vice mayor who
joined the Muslim insurgency.
Estrada suspended peace talks
with the Moro front after the guerrillas refused to abandon their secessionist goal, stop
attacks and lay down their arms.
The Moro group is the larger of
two groups fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines. The
other is the Abu Sayyaf - the group responsible for a spate of hostage takings since
April.
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