Eleven more Abus surrender as military offensives heat-up in Western Mindanao

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (April 13, 2017) - Two (2) notorious sub-leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and nine (9) more Abu Sayyaf bandits tagged in cross-border kidnappings and other nefarious activities surrendered to the troops of the Joint Task Forces Tawi-Tawi and Basilan under the Western Mindanao Command as all-out military offensives ensue in Mindanao, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Information Officer Cpt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Eleven (11) notorious Abu Sayyaf members, including two of their sub-leaders, surrendered to the troops of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi at the Marine Barracks Domingo Deluana in Barangay Sanga-Sanga, Bongao, in the nearby province of Tawi-Tawi at 6pm on Tuesday.

Cpt. Petinglay said that as a result of the joint efforts of the units under the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, led by Brigadier General Custodio Parcon, Jr., and the collaboration of the local government, law enforcement agencies, and the people of Tawi-Tawi, Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Berong Sariol, a.k.a. Boy Master, and Ben Saudi Dambong Sariol, a.k.a. Boy Pangit, along with nine other Abu Sayyaf members, laid down their arms and surrendered to the government forces for good, ending their years of involvement in cross border kidnappings and seajacking activities.

Cpt. Petinglay said that the Abu Sayyaf members Jasim Dambong, a.k.a. Dams; Mujil Dambong; Magelan Langal; Kael Sariol; Nurhamin Sariol; Alhan Sariol; Amnisain Sariol; Akmad Sariol; and Benasil Sariol, all residents of Sitio Gigipan, Barangay Baldatal, Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi, were among those who surrendered to the troops and who turned over their firearms, including one (1) M16 rifle with M203, one (1) M14 rifle, one (1) M79 rifle, and four (4) M1 Garand rifle.

Troops of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi immediately subjected the Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders and nine members to a medical check-up and interview upon their surrender that night.

Ben Saudi Dambong Sariol, a.k.a Boy Pangit, 39 years old and a resident of PanglimaSugala, Tawi-Tawi, is a known ASG/KFRG leader operating in Tawi-Tawi province, while Berung Sariol, a.k.a Boy Master, is an ASG sub-leader in Sulu, who later transferred and operated in Tawi-Tawi with the former, Cpt. Petinglay added.

Last May 2009, both sub-leaders were arrested at the Omar Lumber Yard in Elmo St., Bongao, TawiTawi; however, they were released in Zamboanga City due to the absence of a warrant of arrest.

Their group was involved in the following: the beheading of Father Reynaldo Roda OMI in Tabawan, South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi; the abduction of Mayor HjiKuyohPajiji of Sibuto Municipality; the abduction of Marcy M. Dayawan (Filipino) and Gao Hua Yun (Chinese) at the Singamata Resort, Sampurnah, Sabah; and the abduction of Chulhong Park and Glen C. Alendajao in Barangay Baldatal, Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi on October 23, 2016.

Further, the Sariol group is wanted in Sabah for various piracy and kidnapping offenses. Their group could be likened to the Muktadil brothers during the early days, and it jointly executed previous kidnapping activities with the notorious Muktadil.

The surrendered Abu Sayyaf members will be turned over to the Tawi-Tawi PNP for the proper legal procedures.

From January 1 to April 12, 2017, sixteen (16) Abu Sayyaf bandits have already surrendered to the Joint Task Forces of the Western Mindanao Command. Of this, four Abu Sayyaf bandits have surrendered to the troops in Basilan, one in Sulu, and 11 in Tawi-Tawi.

On April 8, Abu Sayyaf member Ferdauz Asgari, a.k.a Mammong, a known follower of sub-leader Nurhassan Jamiri, also surrendered to the troops of the 74th Infantry Battalion in Poblacion, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. He also turned over his Caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle (Springfield) and a clip loaded with eight live ammunition.

"Your armed forces remain committed in sustaining the internal security in Mindanao with the all-out offensives being launched by the Joint Task Forces of the Western Mindanao Command. Our troops on the ground will continue to work with the local governments and the Mindanaoans in suppressing the Abu Sayyaf and in thwarting the conduct of atrocities within our joint area of operations, and this has become fruitful with the surrender of sixteen (16) Abu Sayyaf members in a short span of time,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander of the WestMinCom.

"We sincerely welcome these Abu Sayyaf members, who have returned to the fold of the law, and encourage the other bandits to join the government and the peace-loving Filipinos in sustaining the peace in Mindanao without the use of arms.”

The military continues to put pressure on the Abu Sayyaf as the AFP Chief of Staff, General Eduardo Año, left a marching order to suppress the ASG within the time frame provided by the Commander-in-Chief.

“Then again, we cannot do this without the sincerity and commitment of our partners and the people of Mindanao. We have always pushed for multi-sectoral collaboration as we have achieved more with the involvement of the local government, our stakeholders, and the people,” added Lieutenant General Galvez.

General Año lauded the recent accomplishment and cited the recent incident in Bohol as a manifestation of the solidarity among the AFP, as intelligence reports were being shared by our intelligence units to the military troops in the said province, Cpt. Petinglay added.

The Joint Task Forces under the WestMinCom continue to intensify the conduct of military operations to contain the Abu Sayyaf bandits, putting more pressure to the said bandit group and their supporters.