MANILA, Philippines – An alleged member of the Daulah Islamiya-Maute terror group operating in Lanao Del Sur surrendered in Marawi City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
The PNP on Thursday identified the alleged Maute group member as Jalanie “Abu Jana” Ali.
Ali surrendered to the police in Barangay (village) Damah, Marawi City, on June 29, the PNP said.
Police said Ali was accompanied by Banto Ditopor, an alleged Magolayan private armed group member, in surrendering.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional police officer-in-charge Lt. Eirene Mazon said Ali and Ditopor also surrendered their firearms.
“Sila po mismo ay may kagustuhang mag surrender kasama ang kanilang high powered firearms,” she said.
(They are the ones who wanted to surrender with their high-powered firearms.)
Police said Ali and Ditopor turned over an M16 rifle, a Thompson submachine gun, and assorted rounds of ammunition.
The guns and the ammunition were brought to the Provincial Field Unit, Crime Laboratory in Lanao Del Sur for safekeeping.
Mazon said Ali and Ditopor would return to their community while delisting from the said terror and armed groups was processed.
“Ibig sabihin po, ang PNP na mismo ang mag process [ng delisting] para matanggal na sila sa listahan ng mga private armed groups at local na terorista at makapamuhay na ng matiwasay [sa] kanilang community,” she said.
(This means that the PNP will process their delisting to remove them from the lists of private armed groups and terror groups and live peacefully in their community.) – Christine Annie Asistio, INQUIRER.net intern