14 Sayyaf fighters surrender in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Over a dozen fighters of the pro-ISIS terrorist group Abu Sayyaf have surrendered in Basilan, an island-province south of the Philippines, about 30 nautical miles from here, officials said.

Officials said 14 terrorists surrendered on Wednesday to the Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade in Isabela City. Luzon presented the Abu Sayyaf members to Major General Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the Joint Task Force Orion and the concurrent chief of the 11th Infantry Division. 

Luzon said the terrorists also surrendered 13 assorted weapons and among them were automatic rifles, machine pistols and grenade launchers. Their surrender came following the death of their leader Pasil Bayali in a clash with security forces. He said the loss of their leader had thrown the group into disarray, forcing them to yield to the military. 

He said the Abu Sayyaf members will undergo so-called de-radicalization process before being reintegrated into society, adding they will also receive financial aid, among others as part of the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) which has been originally used to lure communist rebels to peacefully surrender. 

Through this program, they can be reintegrated back to the community, be with their families, and start over with their new, normal lives. The financial benefits intended for their development include but are not limited to the following: Reintegration assistance (P21,000); Firearms, explosives, and ammunition remuneration, Immediate assistance (P15,000); Livelihood assistance (P50,000); Livelihood materials and implements or employment assistance (P100,000.00); Access to government services; Medical assistance and Legal assistance; Housing; Modified conditional cash transfer and loan and market access; Alternative learning system; Psychosocial assistance; College tuition and stipend and Conditional transitional grant (P5,000). 

The previous Duterte administration institutionalized the E-CLIP to help rebels restore their allegiance to the government. 

Last September 29, four Abu Sayyaf terrorists also surrendered to the military in the southern Sulu province and they They handed over one Cal .50 Barrett rifle, two Springfield M1 Garand rifles, one M16A1 rifle with magazine assembly, and assorted ammunition.  (Mindanao Examiner)