2 Abu Sayyaf bandits surrender in Sulu as military offensive continues

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 27): 2 Abu Sayyaf bandits surrender in Sulu as military offensive continues

Two members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have surrendered on Thursday due to the continuous military operations in the island province of Sulu.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana Jr., commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, identified the ASG surrenderees as Husain Nasirin, 22, and Hasir Asara, 24, of Barangays Buhanginan and Danag, respectively, in the town of Patikul.

Sobejana said Nasirin and Asara surrendered to the 501st headquarters in Sulu at around 1:45 p.m. Thursday. Intelligence operatives facilitated the surrender of the two bandits.

He said the two are followers of the late ASG sub-leader Hairulla Asbang, who died while undergoing medication at a hospital in Davao City. Lawmen arrested Asbang on December 26, 2016 at a private hospital in this city where he was admitted for a gunshot wound he sustained in a clash with government troops in Sulu. He was later transferred to Davao City for further treatment.

Sobejana said the two surrenderees turned over an M-16 Armalite rifle and a caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle “as a gesture of sincere commitment that they wanted to fully return to the folds of the law.”

The surrender of Nasirin and Asara brought to 19 the number of Abu Sayyaf bandits who surrendered to the government since January in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Military troops are continuously pursuing the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the three provinces on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/983190