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Lorenzana: Leader's surrender could lead to Abu Sayyaf collapse

March 29, 2018 | 2:15pm

Lorenzana: Leader's surrender could lead to Abu Sayyaf collapse

President Duterte speaks during the presentation of Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered to the military and their firearms. WESTMINCOM

MANILA, Philippines — The surrender of an Abu Sayyaf subleader and his followers notorious for bombings and other atrocities could lead to the eventual collapses of the bandit group, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday.

Lorenzana said that the surrender of Abu Sayyaf subleader Nhurhassan Jamiri, who was the overall commander of the group operating in Tuburan, Albarka, Tipo-Tipo, Akbar, Mohamad Adjul and Lamitan City, could hopefully lead to the restoration of peace and order in Basilan and bring justice to their victims.

"The surrender of notorious Abu Sayyaf leader Nhurhassan Jamiri and his entire group after successful negotiations and military operations, will hopefully bring the eventual collapse of the ASG in Basilan," the Defense chief said.

The news of Jamiri and his group’s surrender was relayed to Lorenzana by Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, the commander of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, on Wednesday.

Jamiri and 13 of his followers surrendered to the soldiers of Joint Task Force Basilan composed of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, 8th and 9th Scout Ranger Companies, 104th Infantry Brigade, 74th Infantry Battalion and 14th LAC.

Jamiri’s group also yielded seven M16 rifles, an M4 carbine, an M653 rifle, an M14 rifle, 40 assorted ammunition magazines, 651 pieces of live ammunition, an MK52 fragmentation grenade and eight bandoliers.

The Abu Sayyaf militants were then escorted by soldiers to the headquarters of the 9th Scout Ranger Company and the 104th Brigade in Tabiawan, Isabela City, according to Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the commander of Joint Task Force Basilan.

Uy said that the bandits were already undergoing custodial debriefing and that the military was already coordinating with police for the necessary legal procedure.

"This surrender only proves that with the president’s strategic guidance, our relentless offensives on the ground and our diplomatic approach are effective in defeating the Abu Sayyaf bandits and in addressing the internal aggression in ZamBaSulTa area," Galvez said, adding that this surrender would lead other commanders of the group to also yield in the coming days.

Jamiri gained notoriety for carrying out the 2002 bombing of Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City, the 2007 ambush of the personnel of the Marines in Albarka and the 2001 Lamitan siege.

They also launched IED attacks in Isabela, Lamitan and Zamboanga as well as kidnapping and extortion activities in Basilan.

His group also hosted Abu Sayyaf members from Sulu who conducted seajacking and kidnapping of Vietnamese vessels and sailors.

The surrender of Jamiri and his followers brought to 216 the total number of bandits who had surrendered since the start of this year.

President Rodrigo Duterte visited Sulu on Monday and stressed that militants who would surrender would be given another chance.

“All those who want to surrender are welcome but those who want to fight, know that the government is ready,” said Duterte, who previously said that he could eat the organs of Abu Sayyaf members raw.

After Duterte’s visit, several Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered and yielded several firearms.

“We hope this will continue to gain momentum in order to achieve peace without any bloodshed,” Lorenzana said.