13 ASG fighters yield in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Thirteen members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) formally surrendered to the military in Talipao, Sulu, after a negotiation initiated by local residents, Saturday night.

Joint Task Force-Sulu (JTF-Sulu) Commander Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo said yesterday the ASG gunmen voluntarily surrendered to Lt. Col. Jessie R. Montoya, commanding officer of the Second Special Forces Battalion (2SFBn) in the village of Samak, Talipao Sulu around 9 p.m., Saturday, July 7.

Pabayo said the ASG fighters also brought with them assorted firearms and even promised to bring more later after their initial processing at the headquarters of the 2SFBn.

"This is a clear manifestation that we are achieving our goal of clearing Sulu Province of ASG bandits through peaceful means," Pabayo said.

For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Commander Lt Gen Arnel Dela Vega said: "We welcome the surrenderers and will ensure that they will be covered by the support packages offered in the Government’s ‘Oplan Balikloob.’

“We also urge the remaining ASG members surrender and live to a normal life again in the community,” Dela Vega said.