Maute sniper surrenders

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — An alleged sniper of the terrorist Maute group has surrendered to the military following negotiations by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Lanao del Sur, security officials said yesterday.

Nape Baltao of the Maute’s Dawlah Islamiyah cell surrendered on Wednesday to the Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion (IB) under the Joint Task Force Ranao (JTFR) in Butig town.

Baltao brought his rifle when he was presented to the JTFR by Lt. Col. Edgar Villanueva, chief of the 49th IB.

He was the ninth Maute to surrender within four days, according to Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

On Oct. 7, Addul Mashounry Gamama, alias Wawi, who was tagged in the foiled US embassy bombing, surrendered to the military.

Two days later, seven other Maute members gave themselves up to government security forces.

The military said the MILF’s peace monitoring team called the ad hoc joint action group facilitated the surrender of Baltao with the help of the town officials and community leaders.

Baltao was reportedly among a group of Mautes who laid siege to Marawi last year. He managed to escape at the height of the military air strikes.

Baltao remains in the custody of the military and is undergoing debriefing.

Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, chief of the Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao), lauded the troops for convincing the remaining Mautes to surrender.