23 Abu bandits surrender in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Twenty-three Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered to the military in Indanan, Sulu on Saturday.

The bandits turned over two M16 rifles and eight M1 Garand rifles, Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao said.

He said reports from the office of Mayor Hermot Jikiri showed that the 23 surrendered to the 100th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Langpas.

Verceles said the surrenderees were placed under the temporary custody of the 100th IB for debriefing before their release to the Municipal Task Force on Ending Local Armed Conflict as part of the integration program.