ZAMBOANGA CITY - Eight members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered to the military in Sulu province on Wednesday following intense military operations launched by the Joint Task Force-Sulu (JTF-SULU) in the hinterland of Patikul and Indanan municipality.
JTF-Sulu Commander Brig. Gen. William N Gonzales said soldiers from the 1101st and 1102nd Brigades under JTF Sulu intensified their ground operations at the hinterlands of Patikul and Indanan towns in Sulu to track the fleeing ASG gunmen of ASG sub-leaders Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron.
Gonzalez said the eight ASG gunmen surrendered to Col Antonio I. Bautista Jr., commander of the 1101st Brigade at 2:00 pm on Wednesday out of fear of being caught in an armed encounter with the operating troops.
Gonzales ordered the soldiers to track down the ASG members of Sawadjaan and Sahiron after the military overran their encampment in Indanan on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Gonzales identified those who surrendered as Abdul Jihili, 28; Abu Yusop, 38; Sahira Sahibul, 28; Ali Jumsa, 38; Piedo Jumahari, 54; Mujib Jainal, 48; Abdul Abubakar, 34; and Ila Abbas, 47.
They surrendered to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion and 100th Infantry Battalion under the 1101st Brigade.
The eight surrenderees were also presented to Philippine Army Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Reynaldo M. Aquino at the headquarters of the 1101st Brigade located in Barangay Samak, Talipao, Sulu.
Aquino said “it is a welcome development that you returned to the folds of the law. This will be a life-changing event on your part as you will be processed by JTF Sulu to go back to the mainstream."
Gonzales assured the people of Sulu that “there will be no let-up in our focused military operation until we have neutralized Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron.”
He thanked the local chief executives of Sulu for their continuing support to the military.