Kalinaw News: JTF Sulu Commander and Commodore Adaci of NFWM command welcomes the surrender of 36 ASG members and supporters

Posted to Kalinaw News (Dec 4, 2020): JTF Sulu Commander and Commodore Adaci of NFWM command welcomes the surrender of 36 ASG members and supporters



Camp Bautista, Jolo, Sulu – Joint Task Force – Sulu led by MGen William N Gonzales accompanies Commander Naval Forces Western Command (NFWM) Commodore Adaci Jr to the Headquarters of Marine Battalion Landing Team 8, 4th Marine Brigade at Municipality of Omar, Sulu to personally meet thirty-six (36) former Abu Sayyaf Group members and supporters.

Today, December 4, 2020 Commodore Toribio D Adaci Jr, Commander, Naval Forces Western Command arrived at the headquarters of the 11th Infantry Alakdan Division to pay courtesy to MGen William N Gonzales, Commander of the Alakdan Division and JTF-Sulu. In a brief meeting; several topics were discussed including the possibility of a joint operations training among the Navy, Army, and Air Force to strengthen the cohesiveness of all forces in Sulu. The party then travelled to the Municipality of Omar, located at the far east of Sulu Island Province, aboard two Navy watercrafts.

They were warmly welcomed by Battalion Commander MBLT8 Ltc Allan Angelo C Tolentino and Mayor of Omar Hon Abdulbaki Ajibon at the headquarters of MBLT8 at Brgy Lahing Lahing, Omar, Sulu. Therein, a total of thirty-six (36) former Abu Sayyaf group members and supporters of deceased ASG subleader Alhabsy Misaya were presented. The returnees turned-over seven (7) M1 Garand rifle and one (1) M653 rifle. They were previously involved in the activities of the subleader in the Municipalies of Omar, Banguigui and Panamao. They were left in disarray when Misaya, a notorious kidnapper and one of the most wanted in Malaysia, died in a clash with the Marines on 2017.

Mayor Ajibon wholeheartedly accepted the return of his people to the folds of the government.

“Totoo po iyong sabi ng ating Navy Officers dito, ito hong 36 na tao na ito ay mga biktima lang din. Noong panahon ay naipit lang sila ng pagkakataon at napilitang kumapit sa patalim. Maraming salamat sa 4MBde, kay Col Candelario at syempre kay Ltc Tolentino. Tuwang-tuwa rin ho ako at kasama natin ngayon ang JTF at Division Commander na si MGen Gonzales.”

In his speech, MGen Gonzales recognized the efforts of the Local Government in putting an end to terrorism in Sulu.

“Napakaganda ho ng tulungan ng ating kasundaluhan at LGU. Katulad ho ng ginawa natin ngayon, nagkaroon na rin ng peace covenant sa Indanan at Patikul kung saan itinatakwil ang mga miyembro at sumusuporta sa Abu Sayyaf.

“Mayroon ho tayong Balik Barangay Program para sa mga Bakwit. At unti-unti nararamdaman mismo ng sundalo at ng mamayan ng Sulu na malapit na tayo sa Kapayapaan. Dumarami na po ang mga tao na naliligo sa beach, dumarami ang tindahan kahit sa mga dating warzone, may mga nagtatanong na rin ho na investors dito. Ito po ang nagagawa ng pagtutulungan natin. Nandito po ang five-hundred plus na sundalong Tausug at nandito rin po kami mga bilang mga Pilipino, bilang kapatid niyo,” MGen Gonzales added.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/with-jtf-sulu-commander-mgen-gonzales-commodore-adaci-of-naval-forces-western-mindanao-command-welcomes-the-surrender-of-36-asg-members-and-supporters/