Robot ready to face trial, Chavit says

This bandit is willing to face the music if treated fairly.

Outgoing Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson said yesterday Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, more popularly known as Commander Robot, was still willing to turn himself in and face trial for his crimes.

In a talk with STAR publisher Max Soliven, Singson also said he considered he had done his part in the negotiations after delivering to the government the "most important part" of Andang’s message.

Singson said the government appeared to have misunderstood what Andang wanted when the rebel leader asked for a safe-conduct pass to ensure his safety while coming down from the hills to surrender to the authorities.

Singson clarified that all that Andang wanted was to enjoy safe passage, or he is not shot and killed while making the crossover to a new life.

Andang has reportedly tried to contact government representatives, but his satellite cellular phone has been deactivated.

Singson narrated that Andang has, in fact, tried to come out of hiding, but backtracked after he saw a large number of soldiers and a military helicopter.

Andang, who carries a P5-million bounty on his head, had initially asked for amnesty, but eventually settled for a safe-conduct pass as a precondition for his surrender.

Singson, principal accuser of ousted President Joseph Estrada, said Andang and 17 of his men would lay down their arms if guaranteed a fair trial.

Unconfirmed reports had it that the 17 included the so-called "one-armed bandit" Radulan Sahiron.

"Commander Robot wants to return to the fold of the law. He said if treated fairly, other Abu Sayyaf guerrillas will follow," Singson said.

Singson has also said Andang denied any hand in the abduction of three Americans and 17 Filipinos from the upscale resort of Dos Palmas in Palawan last May 27.

The governor said earlier that Andang wanted to turn a new leaf upon the prodding of the family of his third wife, 35-year-old Marimar Matlih.

Lawyer Oliver Lozano, Andang’s legal counsel, said Marimar’s father, Jul Kanain Matlih, said he would consider the dowry settled if the rebel leader would surrender and face trial.

Andang and Marimar reportedly met and fell in love when she volunteered for a medical mission to the Abu Sayyaf lair in Jolo, Sulu where 19 foreigners and two Filipinos were being held hostage by the extremist rebel group.

The captives were seized from the Malaysian dive resort of Sipadan in Sabah on Easter Sunday last year, then taken on a boat ride across the border to nearby Sulu.

The hostages consisted of 10 Europeans, nine Malaysians and two Filipino workers of the resort.

All but one of the captives were freed in batches upon payment of unspecified amounts of ransom.

Andang, who allegedly masterminded the Sipadan raid, has remained holed up in Jolo, having survived an all-out military offensive against his group following the Sipadan hostage drama.

Andang’s band also seized several Filipino and foreign journalists who ventured into their camp to cover the hostage crisis, as well as a group of Christian preachers who bribed their way into the rebel camp to pray for the hostages.

Malacañang initially said Singson has the blessings of President Arroyo to broker Andang’s surrender, but eventually dissociated itself from Singson on the issue, indicating that the governor was acting on his own.

"He is not a representative of the government. If he is a friend of Robot, or they have a common friend, the government has nothing to do with that," Mrs. Arroyo said.

The President said the government may grant safe-conduct passes to the emissaries and the people who would escort Andang and his men for the surrender rites, but not to Andang himself.

Singson, accompanied by top security advisers of the President, flew to Zamboanga City last week to meet with Andang’s emissary to finalize details of the surrender.

Asked by The STAR why Andang chose him to be the go-between, Singson said he did not know, adding there were no previous encounters between them.