Abu surrenders to Marines in Sulu

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (January 31, 2018) - A member of the Abu Sayyaf Group surrendered to the Marine troops in Sulu on Tuesday (Jan 30), military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Abdul Maula Ismula yielded to Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cabanlet of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-1 in Sulu at 9am Tuesday (January 30).

“The Marine troops were conducting civil-military operations in Barangay Likod, Pata Island, Sulu when a certain Khadafy reported that Abu Sayyaf member Ismula wanted to surrender,” said Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu.

Cpt. Petinglay said Ismula is associated with the group of Abu Sayyaf member Udon Hasim. He is listed under the Periodic Status Report of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a regular Abu Sayyaf member with two armed followers. Ismula also turned over his M16 rifle to the Marine troops. He is currently in the custody of the MBLT-1, Philippine Marine Ready Fleet Sulu for medical examination and custodial debriefing. The subject is a resident of Sitio Tubig Malaum,Barangay Niyog-Niyog, Pata Island.

“His surrender brings to 60 the total number of Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered in Sulu since January 1, 2017. This manifests the changing landscape in the province as our ground troops sustain their combat and intelligence operations against the terrorists,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

Cpt. Petinglay further said that a total of 167 Abu Sayyaf members laid down their arms in the joint area of operations of the WestMinCom. Of this number, 72 surrendered in Basilan, 33 in Tawi-Tawi, and two in Zamboanga City.

On January 29, Udat Mohammad Salam, 24, and Mustafa Salihin Ahajabi, 19, yielded to Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo, Commander of the 101st Brigade, in Sulu, she added.

“More Abu Sayyaf members are contemplating to surrender as the Joint Task Forces under this Command intensify their security operations, particularly isolating the reformables from the hardcore Abu Sayyaf members through community-based dialogues, community support programs, and diplomatic mentoring,” added Lieutenant General Galvez, Jr.