Zamboanga city: A total of 64 former Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) supporters and 22 New People's Army (NPA) supporters voluntarily surrendered in Zamboanga City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday. The group surrendered at the Regional Mobile Force Battalion - Zamboanga Peninsula (RMFB 9) Battalion Headquarters at Camp Col. Romeo A. Abendan, Zamboanga City and turned over 19 rifles of various calibers, eight .38 revolvers, three shotguns, one Uzi, one .22 pistol, and three explosives.
According to Philippines News Agency, they later took their oath of allegiance and were subjected to interviews and documentation. All firearms were properly accounted for and secured by RMFB 9. The surrenderers are currently under the custody of the RMFB 9 for further processing and assistance by government agencies.
Jointly facilitating the surrender were the RMFB 9, Isabela CPS, Zamboanga City Police Office, Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office, Zamboanga Sibugay PPO, Zamboanga del Norte PPO, Sulu PPO, the Maritime Group 9, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police.
Meanwhile, the PNP also on Friday said a total of P107 million worth of confiscated smuggled cigarettes have been confiscated in two operations in Sta. Cruz Island in Zamboanga City. In a statement, the PNP said the latest update builds on Thursday's report, which first detailed the arrest of seven adult male crew members and the seizure of PHP21 million worth of cigarettes from the Jungkung vessel M/B Sophia Jayy.
The progress report said a follow-up inventory, carried out at 8 a.m. of the same date, uncovered a much larger shipment on the Jungkung M/B Zhyryne. The vessel was found carrying 800 master cases of Soda Red and 382 master cases of Soda Menthol, amounting to PHP86,240,000.00. The PNP said that brings the total volume from both vessels to 1,532 master cases.
The operation was executed through the coordinated efforts of the police authorities in Zamboanga City during a seaborne patrol in the waters near Sta. Cruz Island on Nov. 12.
