By Jim Lloyd Dongiapon
The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WESMINCOM) confirmed in a press release today that two former members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered yesterday morning, February 6, in Sulu.
Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu Commander Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, identified the surrenderees as “Hadjang,” 50, and “Nadz,” 20.
The two turned themselves in to the 6th Special Forces Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Harold Nemeño, at its headquarters in Sitio Maglibak, Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul, Sulu, according to Patrimonio.
They turned over to the military their weapons: one M16 Elisco rifle and one caliber 45 pistol.
Following the surrender, Nemeño handed over the former ASG rebels to Col. Taharudin Ampatuan, Acting Brigade Commander, at the 1103rd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Camp Bud Datu, Barangay Tagbak, Indanan, Sulu.
The 1103rd Brigade provided initial financial and food assistance to the former rebels.
Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of AFP-WESMINCOM, expressed gratitude to JTF Sulu, the government of the province of Sulu, their partners and stakeholders, as well as the people of Sulu, for their contributions to the whole-of-nation strategy that resulted in the successful surrender of former rebels in the province.
Galido also promised that such efforts would continue to bring about long-term peace and progress not only in Sulu, but also in other areas under their jurisdiction.