3 Abu bandits surrender in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Three more Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered in Basilan on Sunday.

Samir Laarin, 33; Ramil Mobarak, 33, and Naim Majid, 31, all followers of Masud Tanajalin, alias Abu Talha, turned over an M16 rifle and two Garands to the 3rd Scout Ranger led by Lt. Col. Montano Almodovar in Barangay Sinagkapan, Akbar town, according to Col. Fernando Reyeg, newly installed commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan and 104th Infantry Brigade.

Reyeg said Akbar Vice Mayor Ali Sali, Councilor Abdul Halik Yusop and barangay chairman Nuruddin Nasirin coordinated the surrender of the bandits.

Reyeg said the collapse of the Abu Sayyaf is imminent with the continuous surrender of its members.

The Western Mindanao Command said 123 bandits have surrendered in Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu since January.