Philippine militants accused of beheading tourists surrender to authorities
- The two men are accused of kidnapping two Canadians and a German and killing them months later after the deadline for payment of the ransoms had passed
- They will face multiple murder and criminal charges, including violation of the country’s anti-terrorism law, for other ransom kidnappings and bomb attacks
Two long-wanted Abu Sayyaf militant commanders accused of beheading two kidnapped Canadian tourists and a German in the southern Philippines have surrendered to authorities, officials said Friday.
Almujer Yadah and Bensito Quitino gave themselves up to military officials in Jolo town in southern Sulu province and surrendered their assault rifles, Sulu military commander Major General Ignatius Patrimonio and other security officials said. The officials did not provide details of how and when the surrenders were arranged.
The two were briefly presented in a news conference in an army camp in Jolo and later turned over to police.
Sulu provincial police chief Colonel Jaime Mojica said they will face multiple murder and other criminal charges, including violation of the country’s anti-terrorism law. The militants are accused of beheading the hostages after failing to obtain large ransoms they had demanded.
They also were involved in other ransom kidnappings and bomb attacks, Mojica said.
Canadian tourists Robert Hall and John Ridsdel were abducted by Abu Sayyaf gunmen from a marina on southern Samal island along with a Norwegian and a Filipino in September 2015 and taken to jungle camps in Sulu.
