ZAMBOANGA CITY — Eleven Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members have decided to surrender because of the mounting pressure from sustained military offensives against the group in Sulu, military officials said Thursday.
Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the ASG bandits surrendered around 7:10 a.m. Wednesday to the troops of the Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion led by Lt. Col. Jessie Montoya.
Pabayo said the surrenderers were presented to Col. Francisco Ariel Felicidario III, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade in Barangay Samak, Talipao, Sulu.
Pabayo identified those who surrendered as Rodzhaimer Asiri Bagade alias Totoh; Aldimar Amil Alih alias Ding; Abraham Bantolan; Alben Samsorane Hajan alias El; Micheal Using Amil alias Mike; Winison Ayhal Saldi alias Billy; Muhaimen Tikusan Mahadulla alias Immen; Madjiri Ibnil Bagade alias Gib; Kinni Salih Adjal alias Kin; Me Abdulmasa Hajiri alias Me; and Radz Abdulmasa Hajiri alias Radz.
They also surrendered an M-16 Armalite rifle; six caliber .30 M1 Garand rifles; an M-79 grenade launcher; an Uzi machine pistol; and two .45 caliber pistols.
The Abu Sayyaf surrenderers were then brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for physical and medical examination after the custodial debriefing at the headquarters of the Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion.
“This is, by far, a breakthrough having so much ASG member surrenderers in just a short span of seven months. We continually encourage the remaining bandits to submit themselves as we will continue to put pressure until the last man standing will be taken down,” said Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command chief.
The surrender on Wednesday of the 11 ASG members have brought to 146 the number of ASG bandits who laid down their arms and returned to the fold of the law this year. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
