ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), has achieved significant accomplishments in its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, on Tuesday announced that troops, through intensified operations, have neutralized 84 ASG members as of April 1, this year.
Galvez said in a press conference that of the total neutralized bandits, 60 ASG members have surrendered, 13 were arrested, and 11 others were killed in the military offensives.
Galvez said the 11 ASG members were killed in eight firefights initiated by the troops from January 1 until April 1, this year.
He said among the 60 ASG members who surrendered included Basilan-based ASG leader Nurhassan Jamiri and his 13 followers.
Jamiri’s group surrendered on March 28 to government troops in Barangay Seronggon in Muhammad Adjul in Basilan province.
They turned over 10 high-power firearms consisting of seven M-16 Armalite rifles, an M4 Carbiine rifle, an M653 “Baby Armalite” rifle, and an M-14 rifle.
“There were no demands, but there were concessions,” Galvez said citing everything is being evaluated and studied in accordance with the law.
Galvez said Jamiri admitted joining the ASG at the height of the Lamitan siege in June of 2001. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
