Alleged Abu Sayyaf supporters now in military custody

From ABS-CBN (Mar 22): Alleged Abu Sayyaf supporters now in military custody

A known supporter of Abu Sayyaf Group leader Furuji Indama was arrested in Basilan, while another member of the terrorist group turned himself in to military officials in Sulu on Sunday.

Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command, confirmed that the person arrested was Abdul Muhsin Nur, identified by residents of Barangay Bohe-Pahuh in Ungkaya Pukan municipality, Basilan, as a member of the Abu Sayyaf.

The military said that Nur’s arrest was a result of better cooperation among the civilians in Basilan, who reported his presence in the area.

Meanwhile, Absara Mursalin Akbara, a.k.a. Talim Amsang, another alleged member of the terrorist group, surrendered to officials of the 41st Infantry Battalion past 10 a.m. on Sunday in Barangay Mampallam, Talipao municipality, Sulu.

Akbara, 41, turned in his M16 rifle to the military before he was handed over to Sulu police for filing of appropriate charges.

Akbara is believed to be a known follower of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Jihad Susukan, who has been tagged in several kidnapping cases in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi.
According to Petinglay, Akbara surrendered amid a series of intensified military offensives.

Petinglay added that some communities in Sulu that once coddled the Abu Sayyaf have been providing the military with vital information on some terrorists' whereabouts.

"We will maintain the momentum and we will deny this evil bandits safe havens and hiding areas with the strong support of regional governor Mujiv Hataman, all the governors, mayors and barangay officials ARMM,” Petinglay said.

At least 30 alleged Abu Sayyaf members have been killed in Sulu and Basilan since the beheading of German national Jurgen Kantner last month after failed negotiations.

Government forces have been pursuing the rebels in a bid to safely rescue the remaining hostages, 25 of which are foreigners.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/21/17/alleged-abu-sayyaf-supporters-now-in-military-custody