3 Abu Sayyaf supporters yield in Basilan

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

July 11, 2019, 9:01 pm

RETURN TO FOLD OF LAW. Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, the Army's 104th Infantry Brigade commander, welcomes the three Abu Sayyaf supporters who surrendered Wednesday (July 10, 2019) to the 18th Infantry Battalion in Ungakaya Pukan, Basilan province. (Photo of courtesy Army's 104th Infantry Brigade)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Three supporters of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered amid the intensified military offensive against them in the province of Basilan, officials said Thursday.

Maj. Arvin Encinas, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the three ASG supporters surrendered around 8 a.m. Wednesday to the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion in Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan.

Encinas identified them as Hasid Aslimto Abdurasul Taba, Isaimin Talih Kabong, and Gerry Langkat Laikan. They yielded two Garand rifles and one Thompson sub-machine gun.

The three men were presented to Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade commander.

Meanwhile, 25 loose firearms were handed over by the local chief executives of Albarka and Ungkaya Pukan to Lt. Col. Ivan San Jose of the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion commander.

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Westmincom chief, said he was elated with the "unwavering support of the local chief executives in all peace efforts" of Westmincom.

“In our desire to achieve sustainable peace, we continuously convince the remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits and other lawless elements to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law,” Sobejana added. (PNA)

 

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