Four Abu Sayyaf members surrender in Sulu, says military

Four members of the rebel group Abu Sayyaf surrendered to authorities in Sulu on Saturday, the military said.

The four surrendered to Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Caido, commanding officer of the Philippine Army's 6th Special Forces Battalion and were presented to 1102 Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Ignatius Patrimonio, the Joint Task Force Sulu said in a press release.

Among the four is Radzmel "Amil" D. Said who is allegedly under the group of the late Abu Sayyaf senior leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

Amil has long been on the wanted list of government forces in Sulu, Caido said.

He added that Amil, a resident of Patikul, Sulu, is a nephew of Hatib Majid Said, a.k.a. Amah Patit.

Amil also has two brothers who are active Abu Sayyaf members, but was convinced by Captain Froilan Pinay-an of the 20th SF Company to surrender when he saw the good treatment given by soldiers to Abu Sayyaf surrenderees, Caido said. Amil also turned over his M1 Garand rifle and ammunition.

Serhamal Bahjin Alli, grandson of Abu Sayyaf senior leader Radulan Sahiron, also surrendered, with the 13th SF Company under 1st Lieutenant Filmar Luzon facilitating the surrender, the JTF Sulu said.

Luzon said Alli was the M60 machine gunner of Sahiron. He surrendered to the military his M16 rifle with ammunition.

The two other Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered were identified as Muknan S Hadjirudin and Sali Kadil Ammad, both under Abu Sayyaf subleader Alhabsy Misaya.

The two, who are residents of Barangay Punjungan, Kalinggalan Caluang in Sulu, surrendered their respective M1 Garand rifles.

Patrimonio said the intensified intelligence operations of the battalions under the Army's 1102nd Brigade and the project of the Municipal Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) of Patikul has greatly affected the area's landscape.

"The Balik Barangay Program and People's Peace Covenant have assured the people that we, the government troops, are partners in bringing back peace in the municipality," he said.

JTF Sulu and 11th Infantry Commander Major General William Gonzales commended the troops for their accomplishments. —KG, GMA News