2 Abus yield to troops in Sulu

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (January 30, 2018) - After the surrender of five Abus in the past days, another two of their members surrendered to the troops in Sulu Province, Monday (January 29) morning, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Udat Mohammad Salam, 24, and Mustafa Salihin Ahajabi, 19, yielded to Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo, Commander of the 101st Brigade, at 9am of Monday (January 29).

“Salam and Ahajabi turned-over an M16 rifle and a Garand rifle as a gesture of their commitment to return to the fold of the law,” said Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu.

Cpt. Petinglay said they are currently undergoing custodial debriefing facilitated by the troops and will further be brought to the headquarters of the JTF Sulu for appropriate dispositive action.

On January 28, three Abu Sayyaf members with high-powered firearms surrendered to the Philippine Marine Ready Fleet Sulu, she added.

Cpt. Petinglay stresses that from January 2017 to date, a total of 166 Abu Sayyaf members surrendered to the troops. Of this number, 72 yielded to the troops in Basilan, 59 in Sulu, 33 in Tawi-Tawi, and two in Zamboanga City.

“Surrenderees in the BaSulTa areas continue to snowball as the Western Mindanao Command, through the different Joint Task Forces, sustain their security operations, particularly isolating the reformables from the hard core Abu Sayyaf members through community-based dialogue, community support programs, and diplomatic mentoring,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“We will not stop until every one of them decides to take a new and more peaceful life. Together with our stakeholders, we are all one in this quest for the total defeat of the Abu Sayyaf Group,” the WestMinCom Chief added.