8 ASG members under Mundi Sawadjaan surrender -military

Eight Abu Sayyaf members under Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron surrendered on Wednesday to authorities in Sulu province, the Joint Task Force Sulu said.

According to JTF Sulu, the local terrorists surrendered to Colonel Antonio Bautista, commander of the 1101st Brigade this afternoon.

The ASG members who had surrendered were identified as Abdul Jihili, 28; Abu Yusop, 38; Sahira Sahibul, 28; Ali Jumsa, 38; Piedo Jumahari, 54; Mujib Jainal, 48; Abdul Abubakar, 34; and Ila Abbas, 47.

The military said the eight individuals decided to break away from Sawadjaan and Sahiron following the surrender of their sub-leader, Anduljihad Idang Susukan, last month.

"There will be no let-up on our focused military operation until we have neutralized Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron. Another eight members turned their backs to the group mainly for distrust and dissatisfaction on the leadership," JTF Sulu chief Brigadier General William Gonzales said.

The surrender came after Sawadjaan's suspected lair in Indanan was seized by troops on Tuesday.

Pursuit operations are ongoing to capture Sawadjaan and his men. -MDM, GMA News