PAS, DND Abu Sayyaf nears eventual collapse

PAGADIAN CITY (March 29, 2018) - “The surrender of notorious Abu Sayyaf leader Nhurhassan Jamiri and his entire group after successful negotiations and military operations, will hopefully bring the eventual collapse of the ASG in Basilan, restore peace and order in the province, and bring justice to the death of thousands of soldiers, who sacrificed their lives to protect our people.” This was the statement of Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense after receiving the news of Jamiri’s surrender from Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, at 9:00 am yesterday, 28 March 2018.

Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Nhurhassan Jamiri surrendered along with 13 of his followers to soldiers of Joint Task Force Basilan, composed of the 3rdScout Ranger Battalion, 8th and 9th Scout Ranger Companies, 104th Infantry Brigade; 74th Infantry Battalion and 14LAC.

The group also turned over 10 high-powered firearms, 40 assorted ammunition magazines, 651 pieces of live ammunition, a MK52 fragmentation grenade, and eight bandoleers.

The high-powered firearms consisted of seven M16 rifles, an M4 carbine, an M653 rifle, and an M14 rifle.

"From the rendezvous area, all the troops along with the ASG surrenderers exfiltrated towards the headquarters of the 9th Scout Ranger Company and the 104Bde in Tabiawan, Isabela City," said Brigadier General Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan commander.

“The surrenderees are currently undergoing custodial debriefing,” Brig. Gen. Uy added. In his report to WestMinCom, Brig. Gen. Uy said that coordination with the police is also being undertaken for the necessary legal procedures.

"This surrender only proves that with the President’s strategic guidance, our relentless offensives on the ground and our diplomatic approach are effective in defeating the Abu Sayyaf bandits and in addressing the internal aggression in ZamBaSulTa area," said LtGen. Galvez.

 “Following Jamiri’s surrender, we expect the other top leaders of the Abu Sayyaf to do the same in the upcoming days,” added the WestMinCom chief.

The series of surrenders is attributed to strategic leadership and sincerity of the Duterte Administration to solve the problem in Mindanao coupled with the strong cooperation between the LGU, AFP, PNP with the active participation of the affected communities.

During his visit to Patikul, Sulu, on March 26, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte emphasized that he will give the Abu Sayyaf surrenderees the chance at a new life.

He also asked them to help him make Mindanao peaceful during his term.

 “I don’t abhor you (Abu Sayyaf members) because I understand the situation.

As the president, I want to help you, but first, help me bring peace for the Moros in Mindanao.

I am the only president that has a heart for the Muslims. All those who want to surrender are welcome but those who want to fight, know that the government is ready,” President Duterte said.

Just two days after the President’s visit and pronouncement, an Abu Sayyaf member surrendered in Tawi-tawi and another did the same in Sulu.

“The surrender of Jamiri’s unit was a result of an inter-agency collaboration of our security forces and strong support of local government units which facilitated the negotiations,” Sec. Lorenzana said.

Sec. Lorenzana, lauded in particular, the efforts of Usec. Reynaldo B. Mapagu, Undersecretary of Defense for Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs, as well as key security stakeholders of Basilan Province, including Gov. Jim Hataman, Vice Mayor Cherilyn Akbar of Isabela City, and Ustadz Hud Limaya, deputy commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Jamiri is the overall ASG commander operating in Tuburan, Albarka, Tipo-tipo, Akbar, Mohamad Adjul and Lamitan City.

He is also the Operations Officer and Chief of the Urban Terrorist Group of Basilan. His group gained notoriety for carrying out the 2002 Fort Pilar Bombing in Zamboanga City, 2007 ambush of marine troops in Albarka, which left 24 dead Marines, the death of 19 Special Forces students in Cambug, Albarka, and the 2001 Lamitan Siege.

The Jamiri Group was also involved in hosting the Sulu-based ASG, which conducted seajacking and kidnapping of Vietnamese vessels and sailors crossing the Basilan Strait.

Its members also perpetrated several IED attacks in the cities of Isabela, Lamitan, Zamboanga, as well as kidnapping-for-ransom and extortion activities in Basilan province.

This development brings the total number of ASG surrenderers to 216, of whom 100 were from Basilan, which has served as the operational base of the ASG since 1995.

“Our various efforts at forging peace with various armed groups under the leadership of President Duterte are now reaping success. We hope this will continue to gain momentum in order to achieve peace without any bloodshed,” Secretary Lorenzana added. (By JONG CADION with WesMinCom PR)