ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Four suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered to the military in Sulu on Saturday.
The suspects turned over their firearms when they gave themselves up to the Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion at past 8 a.m., the military said.
The firearms included three rifles and a .45 caliber pistol, according to Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, comander of the Joint Task Force Sulu.
The four – Raddoh Jamah, Saddam Hussein, Okim Jikiri and Abdulsali Abda Abdulkarim – were said to be followers of slain Abu Sayyaf leaders Sibih Pisih and Alhabsy Misaya.
The surrender was attributed to a campaign of the local government to bring the militants back into the fold of the law.
“Those who were in hiding decided to come out after seeing that the government is serious in giving them a second chance to live a peaceful life,” Sobejana said.