ZAMBOANGA CITY — Six armed men surrendered to government authorities in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, a top police official announced Saturday.
Chief Supt. Edwin De Ocampo, deputy regional police director for administration (DRDA), identified the surrenderees as Esmael Cader, Abbas Kinawalan, Leden Abbas, Omar Abdurahim, Esmael Pangilan, and Aloy Pangilan.
De Ocampo said they surrendered to the joint police and military forces ar around 9 a.m. Friday at the coast of Barangay Sinusayan, Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay.
De Ocampo said the troops were on search and rescue mission when Sinusayan Barangay Chairperson Ibrahim Abbas presented to them the six lawless members, who signified their intention to surrender.
He said the surrenderees turned over two M-14 rifles, one Garand Springfield, two Shotgun, and a caliber .45 pistol as well as assorted ammunition.
He said the surrenderees and their firearms were taken to the Tactical Command Post of the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion.
The search and rescue operation is aimed to locate and possibly rescue Laarni Buen, 38 (not Laarni Bandi as earlier reported), the secretary of the Cebeles Marine Products.
The Cebeles Marine Products is engaged in the buy and sell of all kinds of marine products in the town of Malangas.
Buen was abducted by seven gunmen believed to be members of kidnap-for-ransom-group (KFRG) on Tuesday at Purok Maabiabihon, Barangay Poblacion, Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay.
De Ocampo said the six surrenderees were placed under investigation to determine whether they were involved in the abduction of Buen.
“It depends on the result of interrogation and possible account of witnesses,” De Ocampo added when asked if they were part of the KFRG behind Buen’s abduction. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
