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Philippines

Leader of armed group in Tawi-Tawi surrenders

Philippines

Leader of armed group in Tawi-Tawi surrenders

By Philippine News Agency

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – Authorities have facilitated the surrender of a supposed armed group leader and a member, preventing the rise of a private army in Tawi-Tawi, police said on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Col. Richard Verceles, Area Police Command-Western Mindanao operation chief, said Ussam Kipli, 61, group leader; and member Gafar Sakaddin, 49, surrendered around 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, in Barangay Poblacion, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Verceles said two surrendered to the police following an intelligence-driven operation against the Usam clan led by Kipli.

Kipli and Sakaddin surrendered a caliber .38 revolver and a Garand rifle.

The clan is a potential private armed group operating in Barangay Mantabuan Sannang Hati, Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi and nearby towns.

“The group is armed with assorted firearms,” Verceles said.

He said they served as the political security of former Sapa-Sapa Mayor Mohammad Ali sometime in 2018.

Verceles added that they were also tapped by political leaders every election in Tawi-Tawi.

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