4 Abu Sayyaf surrenderers undergo reintegration program

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 17, 2022): 4 Abu Sayyaf surrenderers undergo reintegration program (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

ASG SURRENDERERS. The Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu hands over four Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrenderers (holding rifles) on Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2022) to the Municipal Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) of Luuk, Sulu. The four ASG surrendered to the 4th Marine Brigade based in the town of Luuk and will undergo a reintegration program to become productive and responsible citizens. (Photo courtesy of JTF-Sulu)

The Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu has handed over four Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrenderers to the Municipal Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) in Luuk town for reintegration to mainstream society, officials said Thursday.

The MTF-ELAC is Sulu’s version of the national government’s National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which was created through Executive Order 70 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach to address the local communist armed conflict.

On Wednesday, Brig. Gen. Antonio Bautista Jr., JTF-Sulu acting commander, brought ASG surrenderers Ibrahim Asara, 52; Ahamad Inggal, 37; Marson Adong Awwalon, 28; and, Kimar Diray, 27, before the MTF-ELAC members.

The handover ceremony was held at the headquarters of the 4th Marine Brigade (MBde) in Barangay Tandu Bato, Luuk, Sulu.

In a statement Thursday, Bautista said the four ASG members have surrendered through the efforts of the 4MBde.

Bautista said the ASG surrenderers also turned over four high-powered firearms to the MTF-ELAC represented by Luuk Municipal Councilor Alnur Arbison.

He thanked the collective efforts of 4MBde, partner government agencies, and non-government organizations that led to the surrender of the four ASG members.

“Since you approached the government and laid down your arms, we must make sure that you will have a good life. We are working hard to support you,” he told the ASG surrenderers.

The reintegration program aims to transform the former members of the ASG to become productive and responsible citizens.

Meanwhile, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)-Sulu offered legal services to 81 ASG surrenderers, some of whom have surrendered in 2020.

Lawyer Shine Novel Saipudin, representing PAO-Sulu Chief Anne Pierreangeli Ledesma, said the surrenderers who do not have standing warrants of arrest will be assisted in clearing their names on the security sector's watchlist.

Saipudin said those who have existing warrants of arrest, on the other hand, will be acquainted with the process of law and how their cases can be legally resolved.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167990