BY NONOY E LACSON
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Three Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) fighters involved in the kidnapping of five Indonesian seafarers early this year surrendered to the military with their high-powered firearms in Sulu province.
In a belated report, the military said that one alias Dexter; Albasir Salim alias Abu Sadad, a group member of late ASG Sub-leader Sibih Pisih; and Edwin Panduga Abdulmain alias Splakang, a group member of ASG Sub leader Ekoh Udjaman, surrendered to the 6th Special Forces Battalion (SFBn) in Sulu last Friday.
The three also surrendered their firearms – one M1 Carbine, one G1 battle rifle, one M1 Garand rifle – and assorted ammunition.
Lt. Col. Rafael Caido, acting commanding officer of the 6th SFBn, said Dexter was involved in the abduction of the five Indonesian seafarers fishing in the Malaysian waters on January 16, 2020.
He was also present during the group’s encounter with the troops of the 3rd Light Reaction Company, 4th Special Forces Company, and the Navy and Air Force troops in Sulare Island, Parang, Sulu on January 18.
According to Dexter, he was not aware that the group was set to conduct a kidnapping activity and was even forced to execute kidnap-for-ransom activities.
Armed Force of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) commander Lt Gen Corleto Vinluan, Jr. said the AFP-WestMinCom has been tightening its security, the reason why the ASG opted to kidnap outside Philippine borders.
The surrendered ASG members were presented to 1102nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio at the unit’s headquarters in Camp Bud Datu, Barangay Tagbak, Indanan Sulu.
The trio were undergoing custodial debriefing at 6th SFBn headquarters. (Nonoy E. Lacson)
