2 Sayyafs yield in Sulu

From the Mindanao Examiner (Dec 19): 2 Sayyafs yield in Sulu

The Philippine military is holding 2 Abu Sayyaf fighters who surrendered to government soldiers in the southern province of Sulu in the Muslim autonomous region, officials said Tuesday.

Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the duo – Amin Asjad Ismula, 37, and Aldissar Bara Jurrani, 24, – were being interrogated following their surrender to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion under Captain John Arman Guevara in Parang town.

She said Ismula was a follower of Abu Sayyaf leader Alhabsy Misaya while Jurrani belonged to the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Magdal Jumdail. Just last week, another Abu Sayyaf militant, Persing Abdurasid, 41, also surrendered to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion.

Petinglay said some 138 militants had surrendered this year in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, all in the autonomous region. But it was unclear how the military would be able to monitor all of those who surrendered to ensure they do not rejoin the Abu Sayyaf or end up members of a private army.

She did not say whether those who recently yielded would be provided with financial aid or livelihood as a support to their family and eventual return tom society. The Abu Sayyaf is notorious for ransom kidnappings and terrorism in the troubled region, and is holding over a dozen hostages, some of the foreigners.

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