For fear of ML, 7 Sayyaf yield

ZAMBOANGA CITY  , Philippines – Fearing martial law, seven suspected Abu Sayyaf militants separately surrendered in Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, officials said yesterday.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesperson, said four Abu Sayyaf militants surrendered to the troops of the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion at Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan.

Another three Abu Sayyaf surrendered last Tuesday to the marines in Tawi-Tawi. They were identified as Angki Haradja, Nickson Abdulmari Jalil and Asil Sainuddin – followers of slain group sub-leader Aljine Mundok.

On the other hand, the four Abu Sayyaf in Basilan were identified as Usman Mussa, Balie Kasaran, Sadar Tutuh Kasaran and Sarwin Askalin Kasaran, all residents of Al-Barka.

Col. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan (JTFB) commander, said the four militants were followers of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Nurhassan Jamiri.

The Abu Sayyaf members claimed they decided to surrender after learning that President Duterte had placed the entire Mindanao region under martial law on Tuesday.

The military said the Abu Sayyaf militants were fearful that soldiers might soon knock on their doors with court-issued warrants unnecessary.

Uy said during the debriefing, the militants revealed their initial plan to surrender after their two sub-leaders Muamar Askali alias Abu Rami and Alhabsy Misaya were killed in Bohol and Sulu last month, respectively.

Uy said the four militants took the generosity of the military to reunite them with their families.

“But the martial law declaration made them more fearful for their safety as soldiers can already knock at their doorstep without the necessary warrants,” Petinglay added.

Brig. Gen. Custodio Parcon, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi (JTFT) commander, said the three militants also yielded two high-powered firearms.

Parcon said the three militants were involved in the encounter with troops at Barangay Tugas in Patikul in May 2014.

Parcon said Sainuddin was also responsible for the death of Datu Nixon Tarsum, brother of Patikul town vice mayor Datu Adjuwanda Tarsum in 2015.