Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: WESTMINCOM: Neutralization of their leaders bring more ASG to surrender in Sulu

Sunday, November 22, 2020

WESTMINCOM: Neutralization of their leaders bring more ASG to surrender in Sulu

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Nov 21, 2020): Neutralization of their leaders bring more ASG to surrender in Sulu

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City- November 22, 2020

Four more Abu Sayyaf Group members surrendered to the military in Sulu on November 21, 2020, the WestMinCom Commander said.

According to WestMinCom Commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Radzmel Said, a.k.a. Amil, 27 years old, a resident of Sitio Labanos, Barangay Sandah, Patikul, Sulu, and listed under the group of late ASG senior leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan; Serhamal Bahjin Alli, 28, and a resident of Barangay Igasan of the same municipality; and Muknan Hadjirudin, 43 and Sali Kadil Ammad, 21, both residents of Barangay Punjungan, Kalingalang Caluang, Sulu and listed under the late ASG sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya submitted themselves to the government troops at the 6th Special Forces Battalion headquarters in Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul at 9 in the morning, Saturday.

“A.k.a. Amil is the nephew of Hatib Majid, a.k.a. Amah Patit and the brother of two ASG active members Appal and Raup Said while Alli is the grandson of senior leader Radullan Sahiron,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. stated.

“Alli served as the M60 machine gunner of his grandfather,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. added.

During the initial debriefing, the surrendered personalities revealed that their group was greatly weakened by the neutralization of their leaders and their comrades.

“We are having hard times and we are worn out because of hunger and lack of support,” they said in the local language.

As a gesture of sincerity, the four handed over their firearms which include three M1 Garand rifles with clip, each loaded with eight rounds of ammunition; and one M16 rifle with one short magazine loaded with ten rounds of 5.56 ammunition.

“The successful surrender was made possible through the relentless mass base operations of our soldiers and intelligence operatives,” said Lt. Col. Rafael Caido, Acting Commander of the 6th Special Forces Battalion.

The surrendered personalities were subsequently presented to 1102nd Infantry Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio at the unit headquarters in Camp Bud Datu, Barangay Tagbak, Indanan, Sulu at 10:00 a.m., the same day.

In his message, Brig. Gen. Patrimonio said, “I’m happy that you have decided to finally return home. Your surrender is a manifestation that the 1102nd Infantry Brigade is on the right track in its desire to end terrorism in Patikul. Help us inform the remaining members of the ASG to do the same while it is not yet late for them. Together, let us bring back the peace and progress in Sulu which we can all be proud of”.

The four were then brought to Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for a medical check-up.

Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Maj. Gen. William Gonzales said that military measures will continuously be undertaken while non-military actions are also being intensified to address the security challenges in the province of Sulu.

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