17 ASG Members Surrender To JTF Sulu

CAMP TEODULFO BAUTISTA, Jolo, Sulu, Philippines  – Due to the relentless conduct of Focus Military Operations (FMO) complemented by Intelligence and Civil-Military Operations, a total of 17 ASG members yield to forces of JTF Sulu here, in a span of two months.

One ASG member surrenders to 41st Infantry Battalion on March 19; two surrenders to 501st Infantry Brigade on April 27; seven surrenders to Philippine Marines Ready Force – Sulu on May 08; two surrenders to 2nd Special Forces Battalion on May 16; and, another five ASG members surrender to PMRF-S  last June 01, 2017.

One M14 rifle; five M16A1 rifles; five M1 Garand rifles; two Caliber .45 pistols; and, one Caliber .38 pistol were also yielded by the ASG surrenderees along with several magazines and bullets as a sign of their genuine intention in returning to the folds of the law.

Among the compelling reasons that caused their surrender is the hardship and fear of being killed in vain due to the relentless FMO, the breakdown in their leadership particularly the recent death of ASG Sub-Leader Alhabsy Misaya, the un-Islamic deeds of their group of be-heading their kidnap victims and other inhuman and terroristic acts, and most of all they now want to live peacefully with their families.

As a normal procedure, a surrenderee undergoes medical examination, custodial debriefing, and JTF Sulu also facilitates the conduct of ‘Pledge of Commitment.

Ceremony’ wherein an Imaam (Muslim Priest) read some verses from the Holy Qur’an then gives sermon about the true meaning of Jihad and Islam teachings to the surrenderees. They then pledge to commit themselves to follow the peaceful path of Islam and to renew their lives.

All 17 surrenderees are now reunited with their families since there was no prior case filed against them in court. However, if a case has already been filed to an ASG surrenderee, he shall be turned-over to the PNP after the conduct of custodial debriefing by the military for proper disposition.

The continuous surrender of ASG members to JTF Sulu can be attributed to the professionalism exercised by the soldiers having one thing in common despite of their differences. 

That is having ‘a mind of a warrior and a heart of a peacekeeper’ – fierce in battle but so humane to civilians and even to enemies who signified their intention to surrender just like what the 17 ASG members did. This attribute is inherent to the AFP but has been further exemplified during the leadership of Brig. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu when he assumed office last February 2017.

JTF Sulu leadership’s gesture of accepting surrenderees prove that it is committed in pursuing peace initiatives for the betterment of the Tausugs rather than just waging war to defeat the terrorist ASG. 

This also manifests the genuine concern of JTFS forces for the welfare of the Tausugs who are the very reason why soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen leave their families behind and at times even offer their own lives in their quest to win the peace for Sulu.

‘We are thankful that more and more ASG members are now committing themselves to return to the folds of the law.  

We urge other ASG members to do the same because it is just a matter of time and our troops will find them.. 

We will not stop until the last of these terrorists and other lawless elements are neutralized especially that Martial Law has now been declared by the President. We encourage the citizens of

Sulu to join us in our campaign so that we can all focus in developing this Province after all the threats has been eradicated,’ said Brig. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana. (PRNews/posted by Becky D. de Asis-The Redline News PH)