Abu leader, 18 followers surrender

ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Abu Sayyaf ringleader and his 18 cohorts surrendered to pursuing government troopers in Basilan over the weekend – the biggest group of bandit surrenderees since July last year.

Maj. Gen. Glicerio Sua, commander of Army forces in Western Mindanao, said bandit leader Harkim Hamid, alias Abu Aswad, surrendered to Marine Lt. Col. Eugene Clemens in Tapiantana island off Sumisip town.

His 18 cohorts followed suit and surrendered to Marine forces in Barangay Manggal, also in Sumisip.

The surrenderees were immediately ferried by gunboat to the Philippine Navy headquarters here for tactical interrogation.

Sua said it was the largest group of bandits to surrender since military and police authorities staged a crackdown in several Basilan towns in July last year and arrested 28 Abu Sayyaf bandits and supporters.

However, the latest surrenderees would also have to go through the usual legal process as did their comrades who are now facing charges before courts in Basilan and Taguig City.

Meanwhile, Col. Alexander Aleo, commander of the 103rd Army Brigade based in Basilan, said troops continue to scour areas where Abu Sayyaf are believed to be hiding with their hostages Filipino nurse Deborah Yap and American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.

"Our troops are continuing its pursuit operations and are scouring areas where they are believed to be hiding. We cannot leave any stone unturned," Aleo said, adding that ground intelligence have provided the military leads on the hostages location.

Blair arrives in Zambo

US Pacific forces commander Adm. Dennis Blair arrived in Zamboanga City yesterday to assess the progress of joint operations against Abu Sayyaf terrorists who are holding a Filipina nurse and an American missionary couple.

Blair, who arrived in Manila on Sunday, flew into this southern port city with US Ambassador Francis Joseph Ricciardone before meeting with local military officials.

Blair arrived at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Command (Southcom) headquarters yesterday morning amid tight security and met with AFP chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu.

He also met with Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio and Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster, co-directors of the joint RP-US "Balikatan" military exercises involving some 660 US servicemen.

He later flew aboard a US Pave Hawk helicopter to nearby Basilan island where some 160 Special Forces are training local troops who are pursuing the Abu Sayyaf and their hostages. – With newswire reports