Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: WESTMINCOM: Young foreign terrorist, Sulu-based Abu subleader yield in Sulu

Thursday, June 15, 2023

WESTMINCOM: Young foreign terrorist, Sulu-based Abu subleader yield in Sulu

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jun 16, 2023): Young foreign terrorist, Sulu-based Abu subleader yield in Sulu

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – June 16, 2023

A young foreign terrorist fighter and a member of the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group laid down their arms and submitted themselves to the military in Indanan, Sulu, on Wednesday afternoon, June 14, 2023.

Alias Ibrahim, 13, an Egyptian National, surrendered to the troops of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. He is the last juvenile foreign terrorist on the periodic list.

Ibrahim is believed to have entered the country in 2017 as a tourist through the Manila International Airport with his stepfather, mother, and two brothers. He revealed that their family joined the ASG in Basilan in 2017 and transferred to Sulu to join ASG Leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in 2018. Ibrahim’s mother, Reda Mohammad Mahmud, blew herself as a suicide bomber while attacking an AFP checkpoint in Km 3, Barangay Kajatian, Indanan, Sulu, on September 8, 2019. His stepfather, Abduramil, and brother Abdurahman died in an encounter with the AFP troops in Barangay Kan Islam, Indanan, Sulu, on November 7, 2019, while his other brother, Yusof, was killed in an encounter with AFP troops, on April 17, 2021, in Igasan, Patikul, Sulu. Ibrahim joined the ASG as a juvenile 10-year-old fighter and was involved in numerous encounters in Sulu, where he incurred two injuries in his head and right forearm.

Speaking in the Tausug dialect, Ibrahim expressed his resentment against his mother who dragged him and his brothers into horrific situations where they must fight against the government forces and conduct atrocities. He thought that they were just going on a vacation trip in the Philippines, but he was forced to join the Abu Sayyaf Group.

During his surrender, Ibrahim was accompanied by alias Ellam, 27, a subleader of the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group under Radullan Sahiron, a.k.a. Magang. Ellam was recruited in 2009 when he was just 15 years old. He also acted as close-in security Sahiron and the guide of the group in the Patikul area. He was involved in numerous armed confrontations between the ASG and government forces from 2009-2021.

Ibrahim and Ellam handed over one M16 rifle, one M16A1 rifle, one magazine, and 20 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition.

Surrendered personalities underwent custodial debriefing, after which they were presented to 1103rd Infantry Brigade Commander, Col. Christopher Tampus, at the unit headquarters at Camp Bud Datu, Tagbak, Indanan, Sulu.

Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, commended the troops of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade for this remarkable accomplishment. He also attributed this success to the intelligence units in the area, the local chief executives, other stakeholders, and the peace-loving people of Indanan.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, said that the surrender of the foreign terrorist fighter and ASG subleader manifests that the government has won the hearts not only of the people but also that of the remnants of the different threat groups.

“Our successful operations only prove that with commitment and collaboration, we can accomplish so much in the battle against terrorism, insurgency, and any form of criminality,” Lt. Gen. Galido stated.