36 suspected Abu Sayyaf members, supporters surrender in Sulu —military

Thirty-six suspected members and supporters of the Abu Sayyaf group surrendered to the military in Sulu and were presented to officials on Friday, the Philippine Army's Joint Task Force-Sulu said.

The 36 individuals were alleged members and supporters of ASG subleader Alhabsy Misaya who died in a clash with Marines in 2017, the JTF Sulu said. 

Misaya was a notorious kidnapper and was wanted in Malaysia, it added.

The surrenderees turned over seven M1 Garand rifles and one M653 rifle to the military when they were presented to Naval Forces Western Command commander Commodore Toribio Adaci Jr, JTF Sulu chief Major General William Gonzales, Omar Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibon and Philippine Army battalion commander MBLT8 Lieutenant Colonel Allan Angelo Tolentino, among others in Omar, Sulu.

Ajibon welcomed the surrenderees and said they were just victims.

"Totoo po iyong sabi ng ating Navy Officers dito. Ito hong 36 na tao na ito ay mga biktima lang din. Noong panahon ay naipit lang sila ng pagkakataon at napilitang kumapit sa patalim," he said.

Gonzales for his part recognized the efforts of the local government unit to work with the military.

"Napakaganda ho ng tulungan ng ating kasundaluhan at LGU. Katulad ho ng ginawa natin ngayon, nagkaroon na rin ng peace covenant sa Indanan at Patikul kung saan itinatakwil ang mga miyembro at sumusuporta sa Abu Sayyaf," he said. —KG, GMA News