ZAMBOANGA CITY–President Rodrigo Duterte has promised to provide a better life to former members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who surrendered in batches to the government since last year.
Duterte made the promised when the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) presented to him the 76 ASG surrenderers during his visit on Monday (March 26) to Jolo, Sulu.
The President said they will be given houses and provided with livelihood trainings to enable them to sustain their families while living a peaceful life.
“I am pleading for peace. Wala na akong ibang hangarin,” the President told the audience at the gymnasium.
He also appealed to stop their inhumane acts on the hostages, noting that the ASG members have previously killed by beheading some of the kidnap victims.
The ASG are still holding captives 10 people consisting of three Indonesians, one Vietnamese, one Dutch and five Filipinos.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief and Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, JTFS commander, presented to Duterte 652 loose firearms the military has accounted in the province of Sulu.
The loose firearms were voluntarily surrendered by local government officials, including barangay officials and residents, of the different towns in Sulu.
The presentation of the ASG surrenderers at the provincial gymnasium of Sulu was witnessed by military and local government officials. (PNA)
