3 alleged Abu Sayyaf bandits fall in Basilan

Three suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits, including a minor, were nabbed by government security forces in the southern Philippine province of Basilan early Tuesday morning, the Philippine Army said. Citing field reports, the Army said about 6 a.m.l, patrolling troops belonging to the Army's 4th Scout Ranger Battalion under Lt. Col. Armand Arevalo spotted the bandits in a forested area in Tongsengal village in Sumisip town. "The Scout Rangers were able to crawl the bandits' position without being detected. They did not put up a fight upon seeing that they were completely surrounded by the soldiers," the statement quoted Army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc as saying. The bandits were identified as Abdulbaki Ismanul, 30, Al Mahdi Arshad, 22, and a 12-year-old child combatant. The Army described the minor as a 4th grade pupil. The Army said the three are believed to be members of the group of Furuji Indama who is responsible for several abductions and killings in the province. Three high-powered firearms were confiscated from the bandits including two M16A1 Rifles and an M14 rifle, the statement said. The suspected bandits were then brought to a military camp in Isabela City for custodial debriefing before being turned over to the local police for the filing of appropriate charges. On the other hand, the minor was to be turned over to local social welfare officers. — RSJ, GMA News