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Palangan and 15 of his men turned over their firearms to Atal, in front of top Army and local government officials in Sultan Kudarat province.
Atal said that they considered Palangan and his group as members of the lost command of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and that they have “strong links” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) operating in south and central Mindanao, particularly in the municipalities of Buluan and Paglat in Maguindanao and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat. Palangan and his group yielded one rocket-propelled grenade launcher, two M-79 grenade launchers, and four other assorted firearms. Atal said that the rebels also turned over “very vital information” that would help the military in its intelligence networking and gathering. “Boy Palangan has decided to finally surrender because he experienced the hardship of life in the underground movement. Fighting against the existing government has placed him in the losing end,” said Atal. (Malu Cadeliña Manar / MindaNews)