Six Abu Sayyaf members surrender in Sulu

November 20, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Six members of the Abu Sayyaf surrendered to the military amid a sustained offensive in Sulu to rescue hostages, officials announced Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the group surrendered at 8 am Monday to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Jessie Montoya in Talipao, Sulu.

Besana said they were Annuar Sumlahani Dalawis alias Urban; Arsi Kalam Akili; Nassal Asaral; Alvarez Sadjan alias Tundok; Aysal Ajaral alais Taki; and, Medzmar Mursin alias Choy.

He said Dalawis was a member of the group under Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Sibih Pisih while Akili was with senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron. Asaral, Sadjan, and Ajaral, were under Abu Sayyad sub- leader Apo Mike and Mursin was a follower of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Raden Abu.

Besana said they turned over six high-powered firearms consisting of one M16A1 “Baby Armalite” rifle and five US  caliber .30 M1 Garand rifles. Besana said they were placed under custodial debriefing and documentation at the 2 nd Special Forces Battalion in Sitio Bayug, Barangay Samak, Talipao, Sulu.

The group surrendered two days after five soldiers and 24 others, including a junior officer, were wounded in a clash between the troops and Abu Sayyaf  in Sulu.

Westmincom claimed 10 Abu Sayyaf  members were killed during the clash that lasted for about one hour and 30 minutes.

The Abu Sayyaf are holding six people broken down into one Vietnamese, one Dutch and four Filipinos. DMS