3 Abu Sayyaf relatives of Hapilon give up: military

October 18, 2017

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Three members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG),  cousins of the slain leader of the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS) for Southeast Asia Isnilon Hapilon, surrendered, a military official said Wednesday.

Col. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, said they are Ben Salim Sapilin alias Ben Bilog, 52; Ramil Ben Sapilin alias Attik, 23; and, Mohammad Endeng alias Aburayhan, 22.

Uy said they surrendered to the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion headed Lt. Col. Jonas Templo around 4 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Macalang, Al-Barka, Basilan.

Uy said Hapilon’s relatives were placed under custodial debriefing by intelligence operatives of the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion.

The surrender of the three relatives of Hapilon has brought to 123 the total number of ASG who surrendered to the government since January, this year. DMS