By Jim Lloyd Dongiapon
Three members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), including one involved in the Sipadan Kidnapping in 2000, have surrendered, according to a report from the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao on Monday, January 2.
Police Colonel Richard Verceles, chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao operations chief, identified the surrenderees as Mujir Jallah Aharadji alias “Appah,” 29; Jurrim Alungan Hapas, 61; and, Ebin Habiba Hapas, 60.
Verceles divulged that the former ASG members yielded to the authorities at around 1:30 in the afternoon Monday at Camp Julasirim Kasim, where the Sulu Police Provincial Office is located, in Barangay Asturias, Municipality of Jolo.
All of them had engaged in combat with government troops, the police official continued.
After the passing of his leader, Hairulla Asbang, back in April 2021, Aharadji joined the group of Radulan Sahiron, the oldest ASG leader in Sulu.
Jurrim and Ebin Hapas were both supporters of the deceased ASG leader Amah Maas, who was neutralized sometime in 2005.
On April 23, 2000, Jurrim participated in the abduction of 21 people, including 10 Europeans and 11 Asians, from a dive resort on Sipadan Island in Malaysia.
According to Verceles, the former rebels’ surrender was made possible by a team made up of members of the Special Action Force, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and Sulu Police Provincial Office.
The three surrenderees were subjected to debriefing and profiling procedures.