9 Abu bandits surrender

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Relentless pursuit and tracking operations have resulted in the surrender of nine Abu Sayyaf bandits in Indanan, Sulu, the military said yesterday.

Col. Alaric delos Santos, civil-military chief of Joint Task Force Sulu and 11th Army Division, said the militants turned themselves in to 1102nd Brigade commander Col. Giovani Franza in Barangay Tagbak on Wednesday.

The military said the surrenderees, who were identified only by their aliases of Vandam, Raden, Asari, Abu Zendal, Almasir, Abdung, Jars, Jah and Mursid, also turned over assorted firearms.

“This event showed your willingness to return to your normal lives and live peacefully with your family and loved ones,” Franza told the surrenderees. – John Unson