Hapilon’s cousins surrender
Marawi evacuees staying at a multipurpose hall in Baloi, Lanao del Norte are shown in this photo taken on Tuesday. AP
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Three cousins of slain Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon surrendered in Basilan on Tuesday.
Ben Salina Sapilin; Rami Ben Sapilin, alias Attik, and Muhamad Endeng, alias Aburayhad, also turned over three high-powered firearms, Col. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan (JTFB) and 104th Army Brigade commander, said yesterday.
Uy said the bandits surrendered to the 74th Infantry Battalion, which is under the operational control of JTFB in Barangay Macalang, a former hotbed of the Abu Sayyaf in Al-Barka town.
The surrender came shortly after President Duterte declared Marawi liberated from terrorist forces and that the next targets are Basilan and Sulu.
Uy said the surrenderees admitted that the Abu Sayyaf is losing its enclave in Al-Barka amid sustained military operations.
Since January, at least 32 bandits have surrendered in Sulu, 65 in Basilan, 21 in Tawi-Tawi and three in Zamboanga City. Most of them surrendered after the death of their sub-leaders.
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