Abu surrenders to troops in Basilan

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (April 21, 2017) - A listed member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) under top leader Furuji Indama surrendered to the troops in the nearby province of Basilan on Wednesday (April 19), military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Information Officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Abu Sayyaf member Nasser Sagap, a.k.a. Sinbad, 20 years old and a resident of Barangay Limbu Upas, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, yielded to the troops of the 18th Infantry Battalion under the Joint Task Force Basilan and surrendered his Caliber .30 Garand rifle with one clip and four rounds of ammunition in Barangay Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan at around 2pm.

Cpt. Petinglay said that Sagap is undergoing a custodial debriefing by the troops of the 18IB.

A surrender ceremony was also held at the Tipo-Tipo Municipality at 8am yesterday, she added.

“This only manifests that our troops are already graining grounds with the combat operations launched by the units and the growing support of the local government and the people in Basilan. The Abu Sayyaf bandits are now compelled to leave their bailiwicks as we work closely with the local government and our partners to turn the strongholds of the Abu Sayyaf into a peaceful community,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“We want to work for peace without the use of arms and prevent bloodshed, and, in this light, we are encouraging other Abu Sayyaf bandits, as Filipinos, to lay down their arms and join the government in working for a peaceful and progressive Mindanao,” added LtGen. Galvez.

Cpt. Petinglay further said that Sagap is the 17th Abu Sayyaf member who surrendered since the start of the no let-up operation against the group in January this year. He is the 5th to surrender in Basilan.