2 Abus surrender, firearm turned over to the Marines in Sulu

PAGADIAN CITY (Sept. 13, 2018) - Two Abu Sayyaf members in Sulu surrendered to the troops of the Marine Base Landing Team-3 (MBLT-3) led by Lieutenant Colonel Holgado at 9am on Tuesday (September 11), military official said.

LTC Gerry M. Besana, WesMinCom spolesperson disclosed that the Marine troopers with the supervision of Colonel Armel  Tolado and in coordination with the local officials of Panamao, Sulu headed by Honorable Mayor Alfaizer Abdurajak, successfully facilitated the surrender of ASG members Ranu A. Jillang and Ben Kirah at the Headquarters, MBLT-3, Barangay Seit Poblacion, Panamao, Sulu.

Besana said that Jillang and Kirah are former followers of the late ASG Sub leader Alhabsy Misaya and ASGSL Salvador Muktadil a.k.a Badong.

        The surrenderors who also turned over a caliber 45 pistol, were then brought to the Headquarters of the Philippine Marine Ready Force Sulu at Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista in Barangay Busbus, Jolo, Sulu for their medical examination and custodial debriefing, Besana added. 

        “The accomplishments of our Joint Task Forces are greatly attributed to the indefatigable support of the local government units and the populace,” said Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.  

         

        For 2018 alone, a total of 179 ASG personalities have already surrendered in WMC JAO, broken down as follows: 75 in Basilan, 95 in Sulu, 3 in Zamboanga City, and 6 in Tawi-Tawi.

        “Rest assured all the surrenderors will be catered with the programs launched by the Philippine Government and the AFP for all those who chose to return to the folds of the law,” WesMinCom Chief added.