12 Sayyaf terrorists yield in Basilan after death of leader

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Philippine Army paraded Wednesday a dozen Abu Sayyaf fighters who surrendered following the killing of a senior pro-ISIS leader and bombmaker in the southern Muslim province of Basilan, officials said.

Officials said the mass surrender was also due to the collective efforts of the provincial government and municipal leaders of Hadji Mohammad Adju led by Governor Hadjiman Salliman and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Brig.Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade, said most of the gunmen were followers of Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama who was killed in a military operation in the province in October 2020.

Luzon said the 12 men were presented to Major General Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force - Orion in Isabela City, the capital of Basilan, about 17 nautical miles south of here. He said the Abu Sayyaf members also surrendered assorted rifles, including a light machine gun.

Mudzrimar “Mundi” Sawadjaan (Terrorism Watch)

Patrimonio commended Luzon and all those involved in the surrender of the former terrorists, especially the recent killing of notorious Abu Sayyaf leader and bomber Mudzrimar “Mundi” Sawadjaan in Tipo-Tipo town while trying to flee from pursuing soldiers. Sawadjaan was also wanted by Eastern Sabah Security Command or Esscom for his involvement in ransom kidnapping in the Malaysian state.

Luzon did not provide details of the operations that led to the killing of Sawadjaan but senior military officials were elated over the demise of one of Abu Sayyaf’s most feared leaders who mastermind of two major attacks in Sulu’s Jolo town - the January 2019 cathedral bombings that killed at least 23 people and the August 2020 twin blasts which killed at least 14 people.

In September 2020, his cousin Arsibar Sawadjaan, also an Abu Sayyaf commander and bombmaker, was killed in a clash with security forces Sulu’s Patikul town; and his two brothers Madsmar and Mannul Sawadjaan were slain by soldiers in a clash on the Sulu Sea in November 2020.

Patrimonio said he will deploy more troops in Basilan although he emphasized that the Abu Sayyaf's strength has been waning these days due to continued military operations and the mass surrender of its members. "In due time, we will also declare Basilan as ASG-free as we have been given the mandate to finish them off and to finally end violent extremism," he said.

Salliman also lauded Luzon and his soldiers for their unwavering campaign to maintain the peace and order of Basilan. (Mindanao Examiner)