ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Philippine military is holding two Abu Sayyaf fighters who surrendered to government troops in the southern province of Sulu in the Muslim autonomous region, officials said on Tuesday. She said Ismula was a follower of Abu Sayyaf leader Alhabsy Misaya while Jurrani belonged to the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Magdal Jumdail. Just last week, another Abu Sayyaf bandit, Persing Abdurasid, 41, also surrendered to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion. Petinglay said some 138 Abu Sayyaf members had surrendered this year in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, all in the autonomous region. The Abu Sayyaf is notorious for ransom kidnappings and terrorism in the troubled region of Mindanao in southern Philippines, and is holding over a dozen hostages, some of them foreigners.

Source: Manila Times December 19, 2017 13:41 UTC