ASG SURRENDER. A police officer interviews Muwadz Amalul, 23, to determine the extent of his involvement in the atrocities by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Basilan province. Amalul, a follower of Basilan-based ASG leader Pasil Bayali, surrendered Wednesday (Sept. 7, 2022) to government and military authorities in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. (Photo courtesy of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A member of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has surrendered while an improvised explosive device (IED) of the same group was recovered in Basilan province, officials said Thursday.
Col. Richard Verceles, Area Police Command-Western Mindanao operations chief, said Muwadz Amalul, 23, surrendered to government and military officials Wednesday at the Tipo-Tipo town hall in Barangay Tipo-Tipo proper.
Amalul, identified as among the remnants of the late ASG leader Furuji Indama, turned over a Garand rifle.
Verceles said Amalul surrendered following a series of negotiations by the police and the Army's 18th Infantry Battalion (IB).
Lt. Col. Cyril Santander, 18IB chief, said Amalul decided to surrender as his life "became more miserable" after the death of Indama, a Basilan-based ASG leader.
Amalul said he also feared for his safety.
Indama was killed in a clash with government troops in October 2020 in the town of R.T. Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, the Army's 101st Infantry Brigade head, said an IED fabricated by ASG bandits was recovered Tuesday afternoon in Barangay Tuburan Proper, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.
Gobway said the IED, rigged from two rocket-propelled grenade explosives as the main charge, was made by followers of ASG sub-leader Pasil Bayali alias Abu Kera.
He said Bayali’s followers were gone when the troops arrived at the group’s hideout in Barangay Tuburan proper.
The IED was placed under the custody of the Army’s 39th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team for safekeeping. (PNA)
