Abu Sayyaf member surrenders to military in Basilan
A member of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and a known follower of sub-leader Nurhassan Jamiri surrendered to the Joint Task Force Basilan last Saturday apparently tired of military pressure on the terrorist group.
A report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said Ferdauz Asgari, alias Mammong, surrendered to troops from the 74th Infantry Battalion in Poblacion in Tipo-Tipo town.
Asgari also surrendered his caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle (Springfield) and a clip loaded with eight live ammunition.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Wesmincom commander, lauded Asgari’s surrender and expressed hope that more Abu Sayyaf members would follow suit.
“The recent surrender only manifests that the pressure employed by the military and the coordination made by the Joint Task Force Basilan with the local government and the people of Basilan have compelled the Abu Sayyaf bandits to surrender to the government forces,” Galvez said.
“I commend the men and women of the Joint Task Force Basilan, led by Colonel Juvymax Uy, for this achievement, which is a result of the intensified conduct of focused military operations in the province.”
Meanwhile, in Barangay Cabcaban in Sumisip, Basilan, patrolling troops from the 4th Special Forces Battalion clashed with ASG on Monday morning.
The soldiers were immediately reinforced by the 1st Special Forces Company, which were fired upon by withdrawing ASG members bandits.
As of press time, pursuit operations against ASG members were ongoing as Special Forces men followed a blood trail by fleeing terrorists.
In the first encounter, five members of the Civilian Active Auxiliary were wounded while three CAA members were killed in action. Six other soldiers were also wounded during the second encounter.
“The military will continue to secure the area and work with the local chief executives to contain the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the barangay,” Galvez said.
“This incident will not stop us from doing our mandate, in order to free the community from the terror these bandits are causing the people,” he stressed.
