3 notorious Abus yield to troops in Basilan

By Jong D. Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (February 5, 2018) - Military troops facilitated the surrender of three notorious members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan on Saturday (Feb. 3), military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Garama Sulayman, 21, Omar Jaljalis, 18, and Marhaban Pael, 34, yielded to the elements of the Joint Task Force Basilan, composed of teams from the 68th, 18th, and 64th Infantry Battalions, at 7pm Saturday (February 3).

Cpt Petinglay said that the returnees also turned over two M16 A1 rifles, a 5.56mm Carbine rifle, and two short magazines with 21 pieces of ammunition. The subjects were brought to the headquarters of the JTF Basilan for custodial debriefing, medical checkup, and proper disposition.

"Sulayman and his companions surrendered to the troops with the assistance of Mayor Boy Hataman of Sumisip, Basilan," said Brigadier General Juvymax Uy, the JTF Basilan commander.

Sulayman, a.k.a. Abu Tarik, is listed number 9 in AFPs list of Abu Sayyaf followers under sub-leader Radzmil Jannatul. Jaljalis, a.k.a. Oman, is also listed under Furudji Indama.

“Ayon sa tatlo (3) nagawa nilang sumuko dahil sa pagod, hirap at gutom na kanilang nararanasan sa loob ng teroristang grupong ASG, maliban pa ditto ang kanilang nararanasang pang-aabuso sa kamay ng kanilang mga lider at kasamahan kagaya ng pambubugbog, pagmamaltrato at minsan pinapatay,” said BGen Uy.

Based on the revelation of the surrenderees, they decides to come out due to the difficulties they have experienced with the terrorists group. They also said that they are happy now that they finally have the chance to live a new life with their love ones.

Since January 1, 2017, a total of 170 Abu Sayyaf members already yielded to the troops, 75 of whom surrendered in Basilan, 60 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, sustains its security operations, particularly isolating the reformables from the hard core ASG 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 gladly welcome our surrenderees and those other members who wish to lay down their arms and end the armed conflicts in BASULTA area. There can be no better solution but to work in harmony to end terrorism,” added LtGen Galvez.