ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Four members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have surrendered through the concerted effort of the government troops and concerned stakeholders in the province of Sulu, military official said Tuesday.
The four, who were followers of the late bandit sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya, surrendered at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Barangay Likud, Pata, Sulu.
Pata, which comprises of 14 barangays, is a fifth class island municipality of Sulu with a population of 22,163 based on 2015 census on population.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, identified the surrenderees as Aldin Hadil Akmad, 25, Willing Ibba Jaabal, 45, Ijal Samsain Sadjal, 25, and, Emar Ladjar Udjah, 17.
Sobejana said they turned over four high-powered firearms consisting of three caliber .30 M1 Garand rifles and an M-16 Armalite rifle when they surrendered to Lt. Col. Jesse Montoya, Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion commander.
“Through the joint efforts of the 3rd Sulu Civilian Active Auxiliary Company and the Special Intelligence Team, Akmad and his companions decided to return to the folds of the law,” Sobejana said.
The surrender of Akmad and his three companions brought the number of ASG members who surrendered to the government to 111 since January this year within the area of jurisdiction of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
Of the total, 65 yielded to the troops in Basilan, 23 in Sulu, 21 in Tawi-Tawi, and two in Zamboanga City.
The Westmincom said they surrendered brought about by the continues military offensive against them.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, said the surrender of the ASG members due to successful coordination with all concerned stakeholders.
“Our Joint Task Forces are committed in intensifying the offensives to neutralize the remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits, who are on the run now. This operational accomplishment is attributed to our soldiers on the ground who made this possible,” Galvez added. (TPGJR/PNA)
