TWO members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) under the leadership of the late Furuji Indama returned to the folds of the law in Basilan on Sunday.

AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)-Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Major Andrew M. Linao identified the ASG members as alias “Mujahab Elong”, 37, married, and alias “Ahmad Aliman Wakil”, 32, married, both residents of Ungkaya Pukan.

They handed over their M1 Garand rifles to the troops of the 18th Infantry Battalion and were presented to Lt. Col. Cyril Santander, unit commander of the 18th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Bgy. Campo Uno, Lamitan City.

Accordingly, the surrender of the two former violent extremists is a result of the collaborative efforts of the 18IB and the peace-inclined Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

It can be recalled that following the death of Isnilon Hapilon in 2017, Furuji Indama took over command of the Basilan-based ASG.

Indama was killed in an encounter sometime in 2020. Since then, the terrorist group gradually weakened, which resulted in the capitulation of most of its members and supporters.

In line with this, Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr., commander of Wesmincom, appeals to all bandits who are still hiding in the hinterlands of Basilan to surrender as the AFP “vows to provide necessary assistance to them.”

“We continuously encourage those who are still hiding in the hinterlands of Basilan to come out. The armed forces and the local government units will never cease to provide all necessary assistance during their reintegration into mainstream society. We will guide them during the process to ensure that they will not be lured to join any lawless group again,” Rosario said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Zaida I. Delos Reyes