Teen Egyptian terrorist, Abu sub-leader surrender

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines — A teenage Egyptian militant and a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf have surrendered to the military in Sulu, security officials confirmed yesterday.

Identified only as Ibrahim, 13, the militant is the last juvenile foreign terrorist hiding in Sulu and listed in the military’s order of battle, Joint Task Force Sulu and 11th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio said.

The boy and Ellam Panduga, 27, who was with the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron, surrendered to 1103rd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Christopher Tampus at Camp Bud Dahu in Barangay Tagbak in Indanan town on Wednesday.

Ibrahim and Ellam turned over an M16 and M16 A1 rifles and ammunition.

During debriefing, Ibrahim claimed he, his mother, stepfather and two brothers arrived in the country as tourists in 2017. He said they later found their way to Basilan and joined the Abu Sayyaf.

The military said Ibrahim is the son of Reda Mohammad Mahmud, who blew herself up in a suicide bombing at a military checkpoint in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan, Sulu on Sept. 8, 2019.

Ibrahim’s stepfather and his brother Abdurahman died in an encounter with soldiers in Indanan on Nov. 7, 2019.

His other brother Yusof was killed in an encounter with government troopers on April 17, 2021 in Patikul town.

Ibrahim told the military he was 10 years old when he joined the Abu Sayyaf and had been wounded in encounters with the military.

“Our successful operations only prove that with commitment and collaboration, we can accomplish so much in the battle against terrorism, insurgency and any form of criminality,” Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said.