Kalinaw News: Tired of Hiding, 14 ASG members yield in Sulu

From Kalinaw News (Mar 9, 2021): Tired of Hiding, 14 ASG members yield in Sulu



March 09, 2021, Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Jolo, Sulu – Amidst intensified combat operations in the island province of Sulu, more Abu Sayyaf members choose a life of peace over hiding.

According to Joint Task Force and 11th Infantry Division Commander MGen William N Gonzales, 14 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members surrendered to government forces along with their firearms. “These 14 people are from various age groups. One thing in common is that they have once gone astray but are now slowly going back on track. They yielded firearms including four M1 Garand rifle, two M16 rifle, a 7.62 G1 rifle and five pistols.”

BGen Antonio I Bautista, commander of 1101st Infantry Brigade (1101 Bde), presented the surrenderrors to MGen Gonzales on March 8, 2021 at 1101 Bde Headquarters at Bud Bayug, Brgy Samak, Talipao, Sulu. BGen Bautista identified two of the surrenderrors as Almudar A Muhajiri @Almudz (26yrs old) under ASG leader Radulan Sahiron and Warsib Hamja under @Piting.

“Muhajiri was on our watch list for quite a long time. He was in hiding for 4 years before he came clean. He told me that he realized that he doesn’t have a future in group of Radulan. He wants to live in peace and wanted to start a new life to be able to help his family. I commend the 100th Infantry Battalion for reaching out to Muhajiri and to the others who are also here today.”

Meanwhile, Hamja revealed in an interview that he has joined the ASG on 2014 and that he was wounded during the encounter with the military around 2016. Since then, he never returned to the group but was always hiding from government forces.
“Sa hirap ng buhay, nasilaw ako sa pera kaya naisipan kong sumama sa grupo ngunit napagtanto ko na wala palang patutunguhan ang ginagawa namin puro patayan nalang. Gusto ko ng mamuhay ng mapayapa, makapaghanap ng trabaho para sa pamilya ko”, Hamja said.

MGen Gonzales assured them that they will get assistance that they need. He also acknowledged the efforts of all units for facilitating the surrenderees. “I’m glad that you are here with us. The 11th Infantry Division is constantly working with local government units to formulate and implement programs for all of you. As for the troops present, let’s continue our mission. We will not stop until ultimately end terrorism in this province,” he said.

[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/tired-of-hiding-14-asg-members-yield-in-sulu/