Eleven Abu Sayyaf terrorists surrender, including four under slain Sipadan kidnapping leader

Their kidnapping leader was killed during a 2005 prison siege in southeastern Manila.

The four Abu Sayyaf members who served leader Galib Andang, who led the kidnapping of 21 people from Sipadan island in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah in 2000. (11ID pic)

SULU: Eleven members of the Abu Sayyaf terror group (ASG) including four under the leader of the infamous 2000 Sipadan resort island kidnappings in Malaysia have recently surrendered to the military in the southern Philippine island province of Sulu. 

Army operating troops of the 1101st Infantry Brigade (1101Bde) and 1103rd Infantry Brigade (1103Bde), both under the 11th Infantry Division (11ID), facilitated the surrender on April 17 and 24 respectively, said 11ID in a statement Wednesday (Apr 26).

"The surrender was made possible through the efforts of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion in collaboration with the local government units and other security sectors," said 11ID. 

"Firearms were also surrendered which included one 5.56mm M16 rifle, two cal.30 M1 Garand rifle and one cal.45 Norinco pistol. 

"The surrendered personalities were turned over to the Municipal Task Force – Ending Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) to avail the ASG Returnee Reintegration Programme of the government." 

Brig. Gen. Eugenio C. Boquio, the 1101Bde commander, identified four of the surrendered personalities as Tapsil, Ridong, Uram and Mimpe, all aliases and formerly under late ASG subleader Galib Andang @ Commander Robot, the leader of the Sipadan kidnappings in which 21 hostages including foreign tourists were seized from the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah's resort island. 

Inmate Galib was killed during a 2005 prison siege in southeastern Manila. 

The Philippine Army did not release the names of the seven other surrendered ASG members.

Abu Sayyaf members surrender to the Philippine military in Sulu province. (11ID pic)

 Maj. Gen. Ignatius N. Patrimonio, the Joint Task Force Sulu and 11ID commander, lauded the efforts of the troops and acknowledged the support of local government units. 

"Without your untiring efforts and support, we cannot achieve our mission to end local armed conflict here in the province of Sulu," he said.