11 Abu Sayyaf bandits surrender in Sulu

The 11 Abu Sayyaf bandits are seen in this photo supplied by Westmincom on August 1, 2018.

Eleven members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered to the military on Wednesday morning in Talipao, Sulu.

According to the Western Mindanao Command, the following members of the local terrorist group yielded to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Jessie Montoya:

• Rodzhaimer Asiri Bagade
• Aldimar Amih Alih
• Abraham Bantolan
• Alben Samsorane Hajan
• Michael Using Amil
• Winison Ayhal Saldi
• Muhaimen Tikusan Mahadulla
• Madjiri Ibnil Bagade
• Kinni Salih Adjal
• Me Abdulmasa Hajiri
• Radz Abdulmasa Hajiri

The 11 also turned over firearms, including one US M16 rifle, six US M1 Garand rifles, one M79 GL, one UZI, and two .45-caliber pistols.

Join Task Force Sulu commander Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo said that the group was brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for physical and medical examinations.

The military said a total of 146 Abu Sayyaf Group members have surrendered and laid down their weapons this year.

Seventy-six of this number were from Sulu, 63 from Basilan, five from Tawi-Tawi, and two from Zamboanga.

Wesmincom Commander Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega encouraged other members of the local terrorist group to yield to the government forces.

"This is, by far, a breakthrough having so much ASG member surrenderers in just a short span of seven months. We continually encourage the remaining bandits to submit themselves as we will continue to put pressure until the last man standing will be taken down," Dela Vega said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News