Abu Sayyaf chief may surrender in 72 hours

Abu Sayyaf chief may surrender in 72 hours

MANILA (DPA): A Philippine governor mediating for the
surrender of a notorious Abu Sayyaf Group leader said on Saturday
that Galib Andang may give himself up in 72 hours.

Governor Luis Singson said Andang's plans are "okay" and the
modalities for his and 17 of his followers' surrender are being
ironed out by the military's southern command.

Andang led a group that abducted 19 foreigners and two
Filipinos from a diving resort in Sabah, Malaysia in April last
year. Andang's group also abducted several foreign and Filipino
journalists during the course of more than four months of
negotiations.

Most of Andang's victims were released upon payment of
millions of dollars in ransom.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, however, said the
Philippine government will continue its military operations
against the Abu Sayyaf despite surrender feelers from Andang.

"Military operations will continue. We will not allow (the Abu
Sayyaf) to send (surrender) feelers just to ease military
pressure. Military offensives will continue up to the last
minute," he said.

The military has launched an "all-out war" against the Abu
Sayyaf in Basilan province to rescue at least 25 hostages held by
the group.

Andang has denied being part of the Abu Sayyaf faction that
abducted 20 tourists including three Americans in the western
province of Palawan on May 27.

Singson said Andang also known as Commander Robot, has sent an
emissary to talk to negotiate for his surrender. The bandit
leader has been planning to surrender since January, he added.

Andang "is ready to return to the folds of the law. He only
wants to be assured that he will be treated well by the
government," Singson said.

In an interview Saturday, Singson said Andang had several
conditions for his and his followers' surrender, including
amnesty.

"I could not commit on anything from the government side. Our
only agreement was they will be given their day in court and they
will be given a lawyer to defend them," Singson said.

Golez declined to comment on reports of Andang's conditions
but said that Andang and his followers would be subject to the
rule of law.

Andang has a 5-million-peso (98,000-dollar) bounty and is
facing criminal charges in connection with the abduction in
Sabah.

"What they (Andang and his followers) asked was for me to be
there when they surrender. To help our country, I agreed," he
said.

Singson said a professor from the state University of the
Philippines and his wife are also acting as intermediaries for
Andang's surrender.

Presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said the government
"trusts" Singson and is confident that the governor can help
resolve the hostage crisis.

He added that Andang may be used by the government to talk to
an Abu Sayyaf faction that is holding at least 25 hostages
captive in Basilan province.