Abu Sayyaf member behind Sipadan kidnapping surrenders

Kota Kinabalu: A member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who participated in the kidnapping of foreign tourists in Pulau Sipandan, off Semporna, 20 years ago surrendered to the Philippine military in Tawi-Tawi Province on Christmas Eve.

Identified as Barri Lakibol, 44, who carries the aliases of Barley Badeng, Otoh Itom and Robin, he surrendered and turned over a US-made M-14 rifle with ammunition at the headquarters of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 (MBLT-12) led by Lt. Col. Henry Espinosa in Barangay Nalil, Bongao.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) Commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr said Lakibol was recruited by the late Sulu-based ASG leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot in January 2000 and was involved in the Sipadan mass kidnapping in the same year.

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The ASG bandits seized 21 people, mostly European tourists, from the dive resort island on April 23, 2000 and herded them to the province of Sulu.

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