23 Abu Sayyaf members surrender over the week —Wesmincom

At least 23 members of the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group have surrendered to Mindanao authorities over the week.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), said Friday that 19 of the 23 surrendered last Thursday to Joint Task Force (JTF) Basilan under Colonel Juvymax Uy.

Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Nur Hassan Lahaman aka Hassan; and Sub leader Mudz-Ar Angkun aka Mapad Ladjaman, with thirteen other followers, surrendered to the 64th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Tumahubong of Sumisip town in Basilan Province.

Petinglay said that Hassan's group used to operate in Tuburan town area, while Mapad's in Sumisip.

Those who surrendered turned over  nine high-powered firearms, including a cal.-50 sniper rifle, M16 rifle, M79 40mm grenade launcher, five Garand rifles, and one cal.-30 Springfield rifle.

The bandits' surrender was made possible by the joint efforts of the Joint Task Force Basilan, the Basilan Provincial Police Office, and the Sumisip local government headed by Mayor Gulam Hataman. 

Last Thursday, four Abu Sayyaf and kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group members identified as Patta Salapuddin alias Patta, 53; Asbi Salapuddin, 32; Sayyadi Salapuddin, 31; and Arci Salapuddin, 20 (from Barangay Basakan, Hadji Mohammad Ajul town) surrendered to JTF Basilan.

They turned over M16 rifles and an M79 grenade launcher to authorities.

The Salapuddin brothers are linked to the Abu Sayyaf and KFR group sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya. They were involved in the hijacking of M/V Super Shuttle T/B 1 last March 23.

A week ago, four Abu Sayyaf members surrendered to the JTF Sulu under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana.

Abu Sayyaf bandits Husain Nasirin, 22, and Hasir Asara, 24 (both from Patikul town, yielded to troops of the 501st Brigade under Brigadier General Jose C. Faustino last April 27.

Nasirin and Asara, both tagged as followers of sub-leader Hairulla Asbang, were known to be operating in Patikul and Maimbung towns.

On the same day, two Abu Sayyaf members linked to the KFR group and identified as sub-leader Udon Hussiem, alias Udon Hasim, 40; and Haidal Kimar, 25, also surrendered. The two turned over an M16 and an M14 rifles.

Since last week, negotiations are ongoing for the surrender of Udon’s entire group, which is also engaged in kidnap-for-ransom activities.

“The Abu Sayyaf members from Sulu are among the most notorious and among the most difficult to go after; however, this recent accomplishment only proves that the landscape in the area is indeed changing,” said Wesmincom chief Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez Jr.

“We expect to continue receiving more Abu Sayyaf men to surrender in the coming days, even as top leaders of the group are already sending feelers for their possible surrender.

Since January, a total of 40 Abu Sayyaf members (five in Sulu, 24 in Basilan, and 11 in Tawi-Tawi) already surrendered, with most of them also turning over their firearms and ammunition. —LBG, GMA News