The island province of Basilan (in red shading) in Mindanao (Image from Google Maps)
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Three Abu Sayyaf bandits – one of them among the most wanted gunmen in Basilan – have surrendered to the military in Basilan.
On Sunday, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) identified them as Garama Sulayman, 21; Omar Jaljalis, 18; and Marhaban Pael, 24.
The bandits turned over two M16-A1 rifles, a 5.56-millimeter Carbine rifle, and ammunition.
Based on military data, Sulayman is the No. 9 most wanted Abu Sayyaf bandit in Basilan under Subleader Radzmil Jannatul.
Jaljalis used to be with the group of Furuji Indama. No description was given for Pael.
Galvez said the three bandits first sought the help of Sumisip Mayor Boy Hataman, who in turn contacted the military on Saturday.
The there are now under custody of the military in Basilan.
According to Galvez, 170 bandits have surrendered to the military since 2017 – 75 from Basilan, 60 from Sulu, 33 from Tawi-Tawi, and two from Zamboanga City.
“Surrenderees in the Basulta [Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi] areas continue to snowball as the Western Mindanao Command, through the different Joint Task Forces, sustains its security operations, particularly isolating the reformables from the hard core ASG members, through community-based dialogue, community support programs, and diplomatic mentoring,” Galvez said. /atm