By JONG D. CADION
PAGADIAN CITY (July 21, 2018) - The sustained combat operations of
the Joint Task Forces compelled eight more members of the Abu Sayyaf Group to
lay down their arms within a span of three days as efforts are being exhausted
by the troops to contain local terrorists in Western Mindanao, WesMinCom
Official said.
LTC Gerry M. Besana, WesMinCom spokesperson
disclosed that a total of seven ASG members submitted themselves to the troops
of the Joint Task Force Sulu under Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo last
Monday (July 16).
LTC Besana said, troops from the Marine
Base Landing Team 3 led by Lieutenant Colonel RamilHolgado together with Police
Senior Superintendent Pablo Labra of the Sulu Provincial Police Office, in
coordination with the local populace headed by former Chairwoman Rowena Ammar,
and with the relentless effort of the Intel operatives, successfully
facilitated the surrender of Hamsani Salamuddin a.k.a Hatib Hamsani and Hatib Ambri
Awalon a.k.a Ratag Badjang, both married and residents of Sitio Badyang,
Barangay Gata-Gata, Panglima Estino Sulu, and Asali Laadja a.k.a Asali, married
and resident of Barangay Danag, Patikul, Sulu at around 10am of July 16 in
Barangay Tiptipon, Panglima Estino.
This was followed by another 4
surrenderors who submitted themselves to the troops of the 101st Brigade led by
Colonel Francisco Ariel Felicidario through the efforts of Lieutenant Colonel
Amadeo Cruz, commanding officer of the 35th Infantry Battalion; Captain Niwane
of the 5th Special Forces Company and Barangay Captain Jing Hayudini of
Anuling, Patikul, Sulu around 12noon of the same day at the Headquarters, 101st
Brigade in Bus-Bus, Jolo, Sulu, LTC Besana added.
LTC Besana also said that Nurham Lang kahan,
23 years old; Faisal Langkahan, 18; Rashdy Alih, 20; and Kaisir Alih, 16 turned
over one caliber 38 pistol, one carbine, and two Garand rifles.
Additionally, another Abu Sayyaf member
yielded to the troops of the Fourth Special Forces Battalion under the Joint
Task Force Basilan led by Colonel Fernando Reyegthrough the efforts of the
different stakeholders at 8am yesterday (July 18), Besana said.
Mubin Kullim submitted himself to the
troops at the Headquarters of the 4SFBn in Barangay Cabunbata, Isabela City,
Basilan bringing along with him an M16A1 rifle and long magazine with 30 rounds
of ammunition, WesMinCom Official added.
All surrenderors underwent medical
examination and custodial debriefing.
“I would like to express my appreciation
to the assistance extended by the local government and the locals of Sulu and
Basilan to support the all-out military campaign against terrorism,” LtGen Arnel
Dela Vega said.
From January 1, 2018 to date, there are
a total of 135 Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered to the troops, 65 of whom
were from Sulu, 63 from Basilan, 5 from Tawi-Tawi, and two from Zamboanga City.
"The record breaking achievements
of our Joint Task Forces inspire us to strive more in imposing pressure until
the last bandit will be taken down,” he added.
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