ZAMBOANGA CITY – Four Abu Sayyaf fighters had surrendered separately in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, officials said Friday.
Two of them yielded to the mayor of Maimbung town, Samier Tan, and turned them over Thursday to Colonel Francisco Felizidario, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade. The duo surrendered an M16 and an M1 rifle to Felizidario.
Officials said Governor Toto Tan witnessed the surrender of the militants and has urged other fighters to peacefully surrender and avail of the government’s amnesty offer, and start a new life with their family.
Two militants also surrendered to Mayor Alfaizer Abdurajak, of Panamao town, and he turned over the duo to the Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 under Lieutenant Colonel Ramil Holgado.
The Abu Sayyaf members handed over a .45-caliber pistol, according to army Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.
“The accomplishments of our Joint Task Forces are greatly attributed to the indefatigable support of the local government units and the populace,” Besana quoted Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, a regional military commander, as saying.
He said a total of 179 Abu Sayyaf fighters had surrendered in Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and nearby Zamboanga City since January this year. (Mindanao Examiner)
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