3 more Abu Sayyaf surrender to military

October 4, 2017

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) on Wednesday said the number of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrenderees have reached 117 since January.

Three more ASG members yielded to the military on Wednesday. Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said they were Jimil Inggan, 25; Madjidul Asari, 47; and, Alex Issan, 38, all followers of the late ASG sub-leader Ninok Sappari.

Sobejana said they gave up on Sunday in Barangay Bonbon, Patikul, to the troops of the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Jaran Abdula.

Sobejana said they turned over two caliber .30 M1 Garand rifles, which were brought by the troops to the headquarters of the 501st Infantry Brigade.

“Inggan and his companions are currently undergoing custodial debriefing facilitated by our intelligence operatives,” Sobejana said.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincomm chief, said they will gladly welcome the bandit-surrenderees “as we prepare them to live in the mainstream” of the society.

The Abu Sayyaf are still holding about 20 hostages. DMS