Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – “We are hopeful that the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu will soon be defeated and peace and order in the province of Sulu will be fully restored.”
This was the statement of Marine Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, Acting Commander of Western Mindanao Command, after receiving the report regarding the surrender of 21 active members of the core group of Daulah Islamiyah (DI) and Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on Sunday morning, January 8, 2023.
Surrendered personalities include DI-ASG leader Majid Said, a.k.a. Amah Pattit; Sulu-based ASG sub-leader Jamiri Jauhari, a.k.a. Jamiri; and 19 of their followers. They handed over their high-powered firearms to Brig. Gen. Benjamin Batara, Jr., Commander of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade, and were subsequently presented to Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu and Patikul Mayor Kabir Hayudini at the 104th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Barangay Bonbon, Patikul, Sulu. The high-powered firearms consisted of seven M14 rifles and three M16 rifles.
JTF Sulu and the local government of Patikul provided initial food and financial assistance to the former violent extremists who are now in a temporary relocation site.
“I’m very happy with this development. We were anticipating this already because of the well-integrated civil and military strategy of the campaign plan. Moreover, because of the whole of nation approach, we are able to get the support of the populace towards the government side and we have continuously drained the ASG of the much-needed support to them. Also, we were able to isolate them and stopped their recruitment efforts. Thus, I commend once again our dedicated soldiers for their unyielding commitment to the mission. I know this was a long process of confidence building efforts before they were convinced to lay down their arms. You have my utmost respect and gratitude. Team WestMinCom is proud of all of you. Brazo Zulu,” Brig. Gen. Rojas further stated.
The successful surrender of the 21 DI-ASG members is a result of the collaborative efforts of the 32nd and 45th Infantry Battalions, the 6th Special Forces Battalion, the Sulu Provincial Police Office, and the AFP and PNP intelligence units based in Sulu. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)
