Nine Abu Sayyaf members in Sulu surrender to military

July 17, 2019

Nine Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members surrendered to government troops in Sulu amid heightened security operations in the province.

Lt. Col.  Gerald Monfort, Joint Task Force Sulu spokesman, said the Abu Sayyaf members surrendered to the troops of 2nd Special Forces Battalion last Monday.

“The surrender of ASG members happened amidst the intensified manhunt operations against the ASG suspected to be behind the recent IED attack that killed 5 and wounded 22 others in the municipality of Indanan, Sulu last June 28, 2019,” he said.

“The nine ASG surrenderors handed over two M-16 rifles, five M1 Garand rifles, and 2 cal.45 pistols to Brig Gen, Antonio Nafarrete, commander of 1101st Infantry Brigade and Brig. Gen Corleto Vinluan Jr, commander JTF Sulu,” he added.

Monfort said “to ensure the safety of the surrenderors, they were brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for medical check-up and for debriefing at JTF Sulu Camp”.

The nine ''revealed that they felt the tremendous hardships caused by the all-out offensives of the AFP in Sulu and many of their members are now disillusioned with the terrorist’s movement,'' said Monfort.

''They knew several ASG members who are planning to surrender at any opportune time,” he said.

Monfort said Vinluan stressed they will hunt down the remaining Abu Sayyaf members in Sulu.

“With the active support of the local government units and the entire Tausug community, I am confident that the problem with the ASG in Sulu will soon be over,” Vinluan said. Robina Asido/DMS