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.