2 more Abu Sayyaf bandits surrender in Basilan

From the Philippine News Agency (May 22): 2 more Abu Sayyaf bandits surrender in Basilan

Two more members of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have surrendered to authorities over the weekend in Basilan province, bringing the total surrenderers to 52 since the “focused military operations” began in January.

Col. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, on Monday said it is the second time in a week that followers of ASG sub leader Nurhasan Jamiri have surrendered to the command.

The Abu Sayyaf members contacted the troops of the Joint Task Force Basilan to surrender at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Uy said.

He identified them as Wowee Hassan and Samer Batin alias "Iroh." They turned over a Garand rifle.

They surrendered two days after two of their fellow bandits have surrendered to the military in Basilan.

Uy said he “specifically ordered his troops to fetch the duo and to bring them to the headquarters of 18th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Camalig, Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan for the debriefing and documentation.”

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the constant military operations have forced the ASG members to surrender.

“The two Abu Sayyaf revealed that they fear for their lives as more of their fellow ASG members surrendered and gave information on the others. They said that they opted to surrender now believing that the government forces will eventually get them,” Galvez said.

“It is our intent that we continue to put pressure to these threat groups as we do both lethal and non-lethal approaches,” he added.

A week ago, the military pounded the lair of the ASG using new FA-50 fighter jets in the town of Sumisip. Based on intelligence information, about 20 militants were killed.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/989760