5 Abus surrender

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Five Abu Sayyaf bandits have surrendered while another has been arrested in Sulu.

Berham Lutian, alias Vietnam, and his followers Abdulsalam Ajul, Simal Sali and Alvin Alibasa surrendered to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 (MBLT-3) in Kalingalang Caluang town on Thursday, Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command, said yesterday.

Medina said the bandits turned over an M16 rifle, a grenade launcher and several rounds of ammunition.

Ahmajir Ahmad, alias Abu Darda, who was picked up from his hideout in Barangay Ipil, Maimbung, was brought to the MBLT-3 headquarters along with the other surrenderees.

On Friday, Aizar Latip, with aliases of Utchung, Christopher Palomar and Abu Husni, was arrested at a restaurant in this city.

Latip is facing charges in connection with the kidnapping of Golden Harvest plantation workers in Lantawan, Basilan in June 2001, Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in Zamboanga Sibugay on June 10, 2007 and restaurant owner Larry Tam delos Santos in Isabela, Basilan on Dec. 16, 2010.

Latip was also tagged in the killing of Marine soldiers who tried to rescue Bossi.

Rescue operation

Meanwhile, six gunmen with alleged links to the Abu Sayyaf were arrested at the border of Luuk and Kalingalang Caluang towns during an operation to rescue the remaining hostages on Thursday.

Uttal Ibno, Hamad Sarahadil, Said Abdusali, Menfahad Jumdail, Haminod Sarahadil and Abdukahal Ala yielded a machine gun and three rifles.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding Police Officer 2 Benierose Alvarez and PO1 Dinah Gumahad, five other Filipinos, a Dutch man, a Vietnamese and three Indonesians.