ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur——An aide of Basilan Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama surrendered to the Army on Friday, the military said.
Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said Kahar Hamid Muktar, 25, also known as Abu Krima, brought with him an M1 Garand rifle and a clip of eight bullets.
Vinluan said Muktar is among the trusted aides of Indama.
According to Col. Domingo Gobway, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan, Muktar is the 19th bandit to have surrendered this year.
More than 200 Abu Sayyaf gunmen have turned their backs from banditry from 2016 to 2018, under a joint program by the Army, Basilan provincial government and the then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led by now Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman.
They were offered opportunities to finish school, among others, so they can start peaceful and productive lives.
Gobway said that Muktar intimated that he had long wanted to be reunited with his family in Lamitan City.
“His longing to be with his family was actually the primary reasons why he wanted to abandon the group,” Gobway added.