[Latin American Herald Tribune] Five Abu Sayyaf rebels accused of involvement in a cathedral attack in the southern Philippines have surrendered before the authorities, police said Monday. The January 27 attack killed at least 23 people and left some hundred injured.Police said the attackers were led by a local insurgent identified as Kammah Pae, who has also surrendered but has denied any involvement in the bombing at a Sunday mass gathering. Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said, "I am pleased to announce the surrender over the weekend of Kammah Pae and four other persons, who performed individual roles in that incident."
Kammah Pae, alias “Kamah,” is the leader of Ajang Ajang
| ...reportedly a faction of Abu Sayyaf made up of several dozen relatives of Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group members killed in clashes with the government ... |
Kamah has not yet admitted his role in the attack. He is thought to be the brother of Surakah Ingog, an Abu Sayyaf leader who died in combat in 2018. However, his associates have indicated that he was the person accompanying the suicide attackers who blew themselves up at the cathedral.
The other four suspects have been identified as Albaji Kisae Gadjali, Rajan Bakil Gadjali, Kaisar Bakil Gadjali and Salir Alih.
Albayalde said the five men were compelled to surrender as the result of a large scale operation launched by the security forces in the area. The Philippine military launched its offensive against Abu Sayyaf two days after the bombing with attacks from land, sea and air in the remote city of Patikul, in Sulu province.
"Please don't kill me"
On Friday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed that the attack on the cathedral at Jolo, the capital of Sulu province, involved two Indonesian suicide attackers aided by Abu Sayyaf members.