7 Abus surrender, turn-over 5 High Powered Firearms in Western Mindanao

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (May 29, 2017) - On the 4th day after Martial Law was declared in all of Mindanao, four Abu Sayyaf members surrendered to the troops of the Joint Task Force Basilan at past noon time on Saturday (May 27), military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Information Officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the bandits who were all under ASG sub leader Nurhassan Jamiri, turned themselves to the soldiers of 18th Infantry Battalion at their headquarters in Sitio Camalig, Brgy Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan Province at 2pm.

Cpt. Petinglay said that Usman Mussa a.k.a Akkus, Balie Kasaran a.k.a Balie, Sadar Tutuh Kasaran a.k.a Sadan, and Sarwin Askalin Kasaran a.k.a Win, all residents of Al Barka, Basilan also turned-over two M16 rifles and one cal .30 M1 Garand rifle upon their surrender.

Colonel Juvymax Uy, the Commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan in his report to Western Mindanao Command said that during the initial debriefing, the Abus revealed that they decided to surrender after learning the death of two ASG sub leaders (referring to Abu Rami who was killed in Bohol and Alhabsy Misaya who was killed in Sulu) in just a span of one month.

Further, they said that they were touched by the sincerity of President Duterte and believes that if they surrender, they will soon be given the chance of a new life with their families.

The Martial Law declaration made them more fearful for their safety as soldiers can already knock at their doorstep without the necessary warrants.

Last Tuesday (May 23), three followers of the late sub-leader Aljine Mundok, a.k.a. Ninok Sappari, yielded to the troops in Tawi-Tawi, Cpt. Petinglay added.

Cpt. Petinglay said that Angki Haradja, Nickson Abdulmari Jalil, and Asil Sainuddin surrendered to the elements of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, in Barangay Sanga-Sanga, Bongao. The bandits also yielded an M1 Garand and an M14 rifle.

"Haradja, Jalil, and Sainuddin were involved in armed engagements with our soldiers in Barangay Tugas, Patikul, Sulu in May 2013, and in Sitio Kanjimao, Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul in May 2014," says Brigadier General Custodio Parcon, Commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-tawi.

"The subjects surrendered for fear of reprisal after learning that the military successfully neutralized Sappari, their sub leader," he adds.

Sainuddin is responsible for the death of Datu Nixon Tarsum, brother of Vice Mayor Datu Adjuwanda Tarsum of Patikul, Sulu sometime in 2015.

"Our efforts against the Abu Sayyaf will not and never will falter," says Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

"Despite the ongoing challenges our command is facing in Marawi, troops from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi are more than eager to finish the Abu Sayyaf threat at the given deadline."

"All of WestMinCom is hoping that more Abus will decide to surrender especially that it is Ramadan season and they need to observe the holy month properly without fearing that they be apprehended by the military or the police."

"We will welcome them if they wish to lay down their arms; we will hunt them and give them a good fight if they decide otherwise," adds Lieutenant General Galvez.

The four (4) Abus are still in the custody of 18IB for further debriefing and will be turned-over to the PNP for the legal procedures.

As of this report, 64 Abu Sayyaf members already surrendered to the troops of WestMinCom starting January this year.