26 Sayyaf rebels surrender in Sulu

Twenty-six Abu Sayyaf bandits under the notorious Ghalib Andang and Mujib Susukan have surrendered to the military, military officials said yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Narciso Abaya, commander of the military forces pursuing the bandits, said the 26 gunmen gave themselves up Friday in Maimbung and Talipao towns in Sulu.

Their surrender brought the number of gunmen in military custody to 188, according to the military.

Andang, also known by his nom de guerre "Commander Robot," and Susukan had earlier reportedly sent surrender feelers but there was no sign of them.

Bandits who were captured earlier said Andang and Susukan wanted to surrender and were tired of fleeing from pursuing troops.

Susukan was reportedly seen crisscrossing the border of Indanan and Talipao, his Filipino hostage Roland Ullah in tow, trying to evade pursuing soldiers, said Col. Hilario Atendido, spokesman for the military’s Southern Command.

Meanwhile, an American hostage held by Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Asmad Salayuddi, also known as Abu Sabaya, was reportedly sighted in Patikul town, said Atendido.

Salayuddi and his followers were seen moving 24-year-old California native Jeffrey Schilling out of Luuk town. "We have received reports that they moved out of Luuk town and transferred to Patikul," Atendido said.

Ullah is among the 21 mostly Western captives snatched by Andang from a Malaysian dive resort of Sipadan in Sabah in April. Except for Ullah, all of the Sipadan hostages were released in batches through five months. Most of the hostages were reportedly released after huge ransom payments.

Schilling was taken hostage in August after visiting the Abu Sayyaf’s camp. However, the military had suspected him of having links with the bandits who style themselves as Islamic independence fighters.

Schilling and Ullah are the remaining captives of a batch of 19 hostages held by the gunmen. – With a report from AFP