ZAMBOANGA CITY – Senior military officers have expressed optimism that more Abu Sayyaf bandits will surrender after their leader Nurhassan Jamiri gave himself up to authorities in Basilan on Wednesday.
“Considering his hold as one of the remaining senior Abu Sayyaf leaders, we are expecting more Abu Sayyaf members and leaders to come out… in the coming days,” Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said yesterday.
Galvez said Jamiri led Abu Sayyaf bandits operating in Tuburan, Albarka, Tipo-tipo, Akbar, Mohamad Adjul and Lamitan.
Jamiri’s group was tagged in the Lamitan siege in 2001, bombing of Fort Pilar Shrine in Zamboanga City in 2002, killing of four Marines in an ambush in 2007 and 19 members of the Special Forces Corps in Albarka as well as hijacking Vietnamese ships passing Basilan Strait.
Jamiri’s surrender leaves the Abu Sayyaf with only two leaders –Furuji Indama and Radullan Sahiron.
Indama was earlier rumored to succeed slain Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon as the emir of the Islamic State-inspired group in Southeast Asia. Sahiron, who is in his mid 70s, had previously sent surrender feelers.