Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City - Eight Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members abandoned their armed struggle and submitted themselves to the military in Sulu on Thursday morning, March 31.
The surrenderees were presented to Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu and members of Talipao Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) at Talipao Municipal Hall, Barangay Bilaan, Talipao, Sulu.
The former violent extremists handed over to Maj. Gen. Patrimonio and Talipao Mayor Nivocadnezar Tulawie assorted firearms that include six M1 Garand rifles and one M16 rifle.
Maj. Gen. Patrimonio revealed that of the eight surrendered personalities, five were followers of ASG sub-leader Idang Susukan while the others were former followers of Radullan Sahiron.
"We respect and greatly appreciate their decision to end their struggle peacefully. We will assist them in their reintegration and prepare them to become productive citizens of this province. We will recommend their inclusion in the Localized Social Integration Program facilitated by the Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) Talipao," Maj. Gen. Patrimonio said.
Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr., Commander of Western Mindanao Command, said that "We anticipate more capitulations as we continue to pin down and pressure the remaining members of the group to cross the line and stop their nefarious ploys. Rest assured that our all-out operations will never falter."
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres C Centino lauded the troops for their effort in reducing the ASG's strength and addressing the violent extremism in Western Mindanao.
"Our focused military operations (FMO) and local engagement effort are gaining ground as manifested by a series of surrenders of the ASG and BIFF in Western Mindanao. We shall continue to intensify our FMOs ahead of the national and local elections in May to prevent the threat groups from conducting atrocities to ensure that the voting public will be able to exercise their sacred right to vote," General Centino said.///(Photos from WESTMINCOM)
