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ASG surrenderees hand over their firearms to LTC Bacala which
symbolizes their willingness to embrace a renewed life.
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The three rebel returnees, identified as Abdulla Kalitut, 35 years old,
Natim Alamin, 25, and Adzmil Alamin,20, yielded to the Airborne troopers along
with one (1) M16 and two (2) M1 Garand Rifle along with their ammunitions. The
group belongs to ASG Sub-Leader Nurhassan Jamiri. Abdulla Kalitut is listed as
Nr 4 in Nurhassan Jamiri’s Group.
The ASG members’ surrender was formalized through a simple acceptance
ceremony at Headquarters, 4TH Special Forces Battalion in Isabela City, Basilan
Province.
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Firearms surrendered by former ASG rebels to the 4th Special Forces
Battalion. One (1) M16 A1 Assault Rifle with one (1) Magazine and two (2)
Caliber .30 Garand Rifle with two (2) clips and live ammunitions.
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“We are always on the run from the military. We do not have decent
sleep or food. We are tired. We miss our families. We miss having a normal
life.”, Kalilut recounts.
‘Social discrimination and lack of economic opportunities’
Asked on how he was recruited by the group, Kalilut said that he was
enticed by the money promised by the ASGs.
“I need to feed my family. Even before I became an ASG member, I am
finding it hard to find a living outside our municipality since I am
immediately discriminated and labeled as a terrorist. My family is starving. I
have to feed them. I am left with little choice.” He notes.
Asked on whether he regrets his decision, “Very much. I wasted half my
life in joining the group.”
Kalilut joined the group when he was just 20.
A welcoming embrace – taking the first step in healing’
In a simple acceptance ceremony, the ASG Rebel Returnees were greeted
with a welcoming embrace from the Personnel and CAFGUs of the 4TH Special
Forces Battalion.
“This interaction forms an integral part of the healing process as the
former ASGs experience first-hand how it feels to be once again accepted in the
society, more so by the very people who they are up against.” LTC
Andrew B
Bacala, Commanding Officer of the 4TH Special Forces Battalion notes.
Upon their surrender, immediate psychological first aid was conducted
by the Special Forces to the former rebels.
“I’ve never thought that the very people who I intend to kill are the
very same people who would make me feel that I am worth more than just a
bandit” Kalilut emotionally expresses.
“This simple social acceptance works both ways – it heals both the
psychological trauma our operators absorb from the death of their comrades and
does the same to the returnees – giving the latter an insight that beyond
fighting, there is still room for humanity to prosper and that it is never too
late to return to the folds of the law.” LTC Bacala Jr explains.
‘ASG leadership in collapse’
Since the start of the intensified military operations against the Abu
Sayaff Group, Joint Task Force Basilan has worked tirelessly to rid Basilan of
the ASGs influence. Last February, the military flushed the remaining ASGs from
their strongholds in the municipalities of Albarka and Tipo-Tipo. Since then,
the bandits have fragmented and become highly mobile to avoid military offensives.
ASGs who surrendered a month ago cited that what they are experiencing
is far from the life they were promised and that all they experienced was
hardship and pain. They also expressed their dismay over the ASG leadership in
Basilan.
“They just used us for their own interest.” said a former ASG who
earlier surrendered last month.
He cites that Isnilon Hapilon, the acclaimed leader of the ASGs have
lost his grip and credibility in Basilan.
“He left us when we needed them most, only to be killed by government
forces. He doesn't care for us anymore. He left his very homeland he vowed to
defend. If he cannot establish his stronghold in Basilan, he cannot establish
it elsewhere. He are just putting innocent people in danger” he adds.
Hapilon is a native of Basilan Province and is currently linked to the
destructive Marawi Crisis. He was monitored having left Basilan during the
relentless military operations.
Hapilon's alibi in leaving Basilan to “unite” other terrorist group was
seen by some of the members as a sign of weakness and cowardice.
They also cited that Hapilon is only good in manipulating information
and that as a fighter, he is already old and sickly, taking advantage of
neophytes to fill his weakness.
ASG Rebel Returnee Acceptance Program'
Currently, the Joint Task Force Basilan, under the direction of the
Office of the Regional Governor, ARMM, is spearheading a framework on the
rehabilitation of surrendered ASG members.
The ASG Returnee Acceptance Program (not its official name) is
currently on its conception stage and aims to holistically rehabilitate former
ASG members to prevent their re-entry into other threat groups.
Under the direction of ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, the
program includes socio-economic activities as well as spiritual and values
alignment to reintegrate the surrendered ASGs into the mainstream society.
The Special Forces, having specialize in unconventional warfare and
out-of-the-box solutions, was tasked to pioneer the rehabilitation and
normalization efforts.
The recent accomplishments was made possible through the joint efforts
and sustained partnership with the different stakeholders specially the local
government units.
To date, a total of seventy-one (71) ASG Members have surrendered to
Joint Task Force Basilan, with more signifying their intent to surrender upon
promise of a more fulfilling life.
//RJRTV, ODE
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