13 ABU SAYYAF SURRENDER IN SULU

ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Philippine military on Sunday urged anew Abu Sayyaf bandits to surrender peacefully and return to the fold of the law, after 13 fighters yielded in Sulu. Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command ( WestMinCom), said the bandits surrendered over the weekend to the 2nd Special Force Battalion under Lt. Col. Jessie Montoya, in Samak village, Talipao town. Besana said: “The surenderers brought with them assorted high

and low-powered firearms and promised to bring more after their initial processing at the headquarters of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion.” He also quoted task force commander Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo as saying: “This is a clear manifestation that we are achieving our goal of clearing Sulu province of the menace of the Abu Sayyaf through peaceful means by giving them a better option and to re- embrace the true essence of Islam.” Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, WestMinCom chief, lauded the decision of the rebels and assured them of government aid as part of “Oplan: Balik-loob.”