Abu Sayyaf sub-leader, 10 followers surrender in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A sub-leader of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan and 10 of his followers surrendered on Tuesday.

Abdullah Indanan, alias Guro, and his men turned themselves in to Joint Task Force Basilan and 101st Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway in Barangay Serongon in Hadji Mohammad Ajul town.

Indanan was said to be a henchman of Isnilon Hapilon, who was killed in clashes during the siege of Marawi by Abu Sayyaf bandits and members of the Maute group.

Gobway said the surrenderees yielded six M16 rifles, an M1 Carbine, two M16A1 rifles, an M16 attached with an M203 grenade launcher and an M4 rifle.

He said the surrender came four days after Radzmil Jannatul, the remaining Abu Sayyaf leader in Basilan, was killed in an encounter with Scout Rangers in Barangay Baiwas in Sumisip town.

Gobway said the death of Jannatul “put pressure on his remaining followers.”

Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said Hadji Samad of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and other MILF commanders helped facilitate the surrender of the bandits.

More than 300 Abu Sayyaf bandits have surrendered in batches since 2016.