ZAMBOANGA CITY – An arms cache keeper of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered to military authorities amid constant pressure from pursuing troops in Sulu, officials announced Friday.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, identified the ASG arms cache keeper as Ronnie Jamaari alias Apo Eting, 50, a resident of Tanduh Patong, Maimbung town.
Sobejana said Jamaari has surrendered Friday, March 2, in Barangay Niangkaan, Omar and turned over a caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle with ammunition.
Sobejana said Jamaari’s surrender was made possible through the effort of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-1 (MBLT-1) headed by Lt. Col. Stephen Cabanlet.
He said Jamaari was the arms cache keeper of the ASG the troops have recovered on February 22 on Sitio Kadkad, Barangay Pitogo, Kalingalan Caluang municipality.
The recovered arms cache included four caliber 7.62-mm M-14 rifles and four 5.56-mm M-16 Armalite rifles.
At that time, Jamaari eluded arrest as he abandoned the arms cache before the troops arrived.
Sobejana lauded the accomplishment of the MBLT-1 and urged other units to continuously pursue the remaining ASG members for them to just surrender and avail of the comprehensive reintegration program.
“We want to end this campaign peacefully and give our misled brothers a second chance that is why we are proposing for their reintegration. This is another manifestation that your military here in Sulu is really after of the welfare of every Tausug,” he said.
“We call on the Suluanons to support our thrust against terrorism and proliferation of loose firearms to pave the way for security and development not only in Sulu but in the whole Mindanao,” said Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
“Peace can only be achieved with harmony and shared responsibility,” Galvez added.
The Joint Task Forces of Westmincom recovered a total of 374 loose firearms, 192 of which were surrendered in Zamboanga City, 52 in Sulu, 30 in Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao, and 100 in Central Mindanao. (PNA)
