Enlightened ASG member returns to the fold of the law

PAGADIAN CITY (Feb. 2, 2021) - A member of the Abu Sayyaf Group who lay low for more than three years surrendered to the military in Zamboanga City on Monday February 1, 2021, WestMinCom Commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr. said.

“Based on the report submitted by Joint Task Force Zamboanga, a certain Serhan Nieva Saliddin, a.k.a. Al-Mhahdi submitted himself to the military bringing along his firearm, an M14 rifle with him,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. added.

The Commander further said that Saliddin was a Sulu-based ASG member under Mujer Yadah, a.k.a. Mujer, and served as one of the guards of the Samal kidnap victims identified as Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel who were both beheaded, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad who was released in 2016, and Filipina Marites Flor who was released in 2015.

Said kidnap victims were abducted at Oceanview Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte on September 21, 2015.

According to Saliddin, he also participated in three encounters with the government forces. Fearing for his life he decided to lie low and started moving from one place to another after which he traveled to Sabah in January 2019 where he was employed as a construction worker.

He then moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where he was imprisoned due to illegal entry and was among the Filipino deportees who were sent back to Zamboanga City in October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joint Task Force Zamboanga Commander Col. Antonio John Divinagracia said Saliddin finally decided to surrender because he wants to clear his name and his being linked to the notorious group.

“Through a negotiation with our intelligence personnel, he is now done being a lawless element and is ready to be reintegrated into the mainstream society,” Col. Divinagracia added.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operations of the Western Mindanao Command said Saliddin will be enrolled in the reintegration and rehabilitation program of the government.

“We hope that more of our misled brothers will follow his footstep,” Lt. Col. Delos Santos added.

Police Lt. Col. Haywein Salvado of the Police Regional Office 9 said Saliddin has no pending case and is free to be reintegrated into the mainstream society.

Further, Saliddin confirmed that he is not anymore affiliated with the group since the time he lay low and he doesn’t communicate with any of the active members of the group.

With this, Col. Divinagracia said, “We are doing everything to keep Zamboanga City free from terrorism”.

Since January 1, 2021 to date, a total of 21 Abu Sayyaf Group members have yielded to the government forces, 18 of which surrendered in Sulu, 2 in Basilan, and 1 in Zamboanga City.

“We will exert more efforts to win the hearts of the remaining terrorists that they may heed our call and reconsider crossing the line for good,” said Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr.

“Rest assured that we will assist them in achieving a peaceful and successful life,” the Commander further said. (By JONG CADION with reports and photos by WestMinCom-PIO)

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