Soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines sent to Sulu to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf. (AFP FILE PHOTO)
MANILA — Surrender and live.
This was the message of soldiers to Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists in Sulu and Basilan following a visit by a monitoring group tasked to probe alleged human rights violations in military operations.
The troops from Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) told monitors of the BaSulTa Sub-Regional Human Rights Commission (RHRC) and the International Monitoring Team (IMT) for the peace process that countless innocent lives could be saved by just forcing the ASG to disband and surrender.
The RHRC and IMT visited the task force’s headquarters in Camp Bautista on Wednesday and Thursday.
Successive military encounters with the ASG in Sulu have resulted in the deaths of many ASG members, including the notorious Muktadil brothers, and the arrest of ASG leader Pauji Asgari by Army troops in Talipao, Sulu on Tuesday.
Since July this year, a total of 36 ASG members were killed in Sulu and scores were wounded. On the AFP side, 15 soldiers were killed in action while 28 others were wounded.
The focused military operation also led to the rescue and recovery of 16 ASG hostages although 12 kidnapping victims have yet to be rescued.
The JTFS said Asgari was treated well, brought to the hospital for medical check-up, and given food.
Asgari was arrested after the 41st Infantry Battalion, which was pursuing a group of armed men acted on the information provided by local residents. Recovered from him were an M16 assault rifle, ammunition, electric cords, combat pack, cellphone, hammock, motorcycle and Marine Battle Dress Attire.
The JTFS said the pursuing soldiers were thankful that Asgari did not put up a fight during his arrest, which prevented a firefight.
Asgari’s mother showed up in the JTFS camp a day after his arrest and thanked soldiers for their kind treatment of his son. JTFS officials assured her and all relatives of ASG that those who would surrender would be treated humanely.
“Its good he did not resist. He and his mother are now glad he is alive. We don’t want anyone being killed but if he tried to shoot at us, we will have no choice but to shoot back,” the JTFS quoted one of the soldiers as saying.
Recently, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Ricardo Visaya urged ASG members to surrender in order to preserve lives and for them to have new lives. A week after the appeal, 21 ASG from Basilan surrendered.
Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, JTFS commander, also echoed the same appeal.
“We are calling on the ASG to surrender and stop these kidnappings and all un-Islamic activities so that they may be given chance to live, atone for their crimes and be with their families,” De la Vega said.
The ARMM BaSulTa Sub-RHRC led by lawyer Edy Lyn Santiago checked with JTFS officers on the status of human rights awareness of troops.
The JTFS said soldiers who were pursuing the ASG members assured the monitoring group of their compliance with human rights, international humanitarian law and the rule of law.
The IMT, led by Malaysian Maj. Gen. Datuk Wir Zamrose, also conferred with JTFS and local government officials on the status of peace process in the province.
The JTFS said reports from communities indicated that many ASG wanted to surrender but were told by their leaders that soldiers would kill them.
De la Vega said the humane treatment of those arrested was proof of the commitment of troops to human rights.
“We are all losers in this war specially the victims and the people of Sulu,” De la Vega said.
“Our soldiers die, many more on the ASG are killed and those who suffer most are the victims and innocent people being displaced due to the atrocities of the ASG,” he said. SFM/rga