Monday, January 18, 2021

17 ASG bandits yield in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 18, 2021): 17 ASG bandits yield in Sulu (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)



ASG SURRENDERERS. An Abu Sayyaf Group surrenderer hands over a high-power rifle to Brig. Gen. Manuel Sequitin, assistant commander of the Army's 11th Infantry Division in Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul, Sulu, on Sunday (Jan. 17, 2021). At least 17 bandits surrender in two batches in the province of Sulu in the first two weeks of the year. (Photo courtesy of 11th Infantry Division Public Information Office)

Seventeen Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits have surrendered in two batches in the province of Sulu, officials said Monday.

T
he first batch comprising of 13 ASG bandits--one of whom is in the government's “wanted” list--surrendered Saturday at the 1101st Infantry Brigade headquarters in Sitio Bayog, Barangay Samak in Talipao town.

Col. Antonio Bautista Jr., commander of the Army's 1101st Infantry Brigade who facilitated the surrender, said
the 13 bandits are followers of ASG leaders Radullan Sahiron and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan who are operating in the towns of Indanan, Maimbung, Patikul, and Talipao.

One of the surrenderers, 27-year-old Arlyn Kanlon, is in the government’s “wanted” list who provided logistical support to the group of her cousin, the infamous ASG bomber Mundi Sawadjaan, Bautista said.

Bautista said Kanlon’s husband surrendered to government authorities last year.


He said the first batch of ASG surrenderers yielded six high-power firearms.

The second batch comprising of four ASG bandits surrendered Sunday to the Army's 1102nd Infantry Brigade in Barangay Buhanginan in Patikul.

Lt. Col. Rafael Caido, commander of the Army's 6th Special Forces Battalion who facilitated the surrender of the four ASG bandits, said Alkandi Jilbasar, Samsudin Abral, and Algabid Abral are followers of Sahiron.

The fourth one, Sudimar Ahmad, is a follower of Sawadjaan. All four are residents of Patikul.

Caido said the four yielded four high-power firearms and ammunition.

Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the 11ID, said the series of surrenders demonstrate the dwindling forces of the ASG and its inability to keep pace with the government forces in Sulu.

“The terrorist groups are now in a defensive and disadvantaged position. Given the intense combat and civil-military operations by the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu, we anticipate that the ASG will soon be defeated” said Gonzales, who is also the JTF-Sulu commander.

Gonzales said the ASG surrenderers will be placed in the government's integration program.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1127713

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