PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., yesterday announced the surrender of 21 members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group accused of involvement in dozens of atrocities in Sulu.
Philippine National Police-Special Action Force director Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo formally received the 21 during ceremonies held in Bgy. Bangkal in Patikul town on Wednesday.
Okubo said the 21 have been accused of involvement in bombings, kidnap-for-ransom, assassination and extortion activities in the Southern Philippines, including the infamous Sipadan kidnappings in Sabah, Malaysia in 2000.
The 21 were also said to be involved in the abduction of a Malaysian national, an ABS-CBN cameraman and three International Red Cross workers in 2009, as well as the ambush-slay of the late Sulu Police Provincial Office director Col. Julasirim Kiram and three of his men.
The PNP-SAF head said the 21 bandits heeded calls for them to surrender to the government.
Okubo said they are now processing their papers of the 21 Abu men prior to their enrollment in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP for rebel returnees.
He also extended a P10,000 financial assistance to each of the 21, who also received sacks of rice and grocery packages from the RMU, and the Ministry of Social Services and Development.
According to Okuno, the 21 will also have the chance to join different livelihood programs being offered by the government to help them feed their families.
