Sayyaf man in oceanographer’s 2001 kidnapping surrenders to Marines

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A member of the terror group Abu Sayyaf in Tawi-Tawi province, who is a suspect in the kidnapping of an oceanographer in 2001, surrendered to the Marines on Thursday (Oct. 22).

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., head of the Western Mindanao Command, said Benjamin Kalinggalan, also known as Young Driver, turned himself over to the 2nd Marine Brigade in Bongao town.

According to Vinluan, Kalinggalan was involved in the attempt to kidnap in 2001 a visiting professor of the Mindanao State University—Tawi-tawi College of Technology and Oceanography.

The visiting professor, Percival Showers, was taken by Abu Sayyaf gunmen from his living quarters inside the university campus at the village of Sanga-sanga in Bongao in September 2001.

But Showers was able to escape after 12 hours in captivity, hiding in a swamp until Marines found him.

Vinluan added that Kalinggalan was also involved in December 2017 clash in Bongao between Marines and members of the terror group then led by Sakkam Pakam, alias Last Pangit.

Col. Arturo Rojas, commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, said Kalinggalan handed over a Garand rifle during his surrender.

After a medical checkup, Kalinggalan was turned over to Bongao Mayor Jimuel Que for custody of the local government.

TSB