Egyptian boy terrorist, Abu Sayyaf subleader surrender to Philippine Army
The 13-year-old resents his mother, a 2019 suicide bomber, for dragging him into terrorism.
SULU: An Egyptian boy terrorist fighter with the Abu Sayyaf terror group (ASG) and a local subleader surrendered to the Philippine military in the southern island province of Sulu on Wednesday (June 14), an Army official said.
Ibrahim, 13, surrendered to the troops of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade in Indanan municipality and was the last juvenile foreign terrorist on the list, according to a statement by the Western Mindanao Command (Wesstmincom).
Ibrahim is believed to have entered the country in 2017 as a tourist through the Manila International Airport with his now dead family members - his stepfather, mother and two brothers.
He revealed that his family joined the ASG in Basilan in 2017 and transferred to Sulu to join the now reportedly dead ASG leader, Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, in 2018.
Ibrahim’s mother, Reda Mohammad Mahmud, blew herself up in a suicide attack on a military checkpoint at Km 3, Kajatian village, Indanan, on September 8, 2019.
His stepfather, Abduramil, and brother Abdurahman died in an encounter with military troops in Kan Islam village, Indanan, on November 7, 2019, while his other brother, Yusof, was killed in a clash with troops on April 17, 2021, in Igasan, Patikul municipality, Sulu.
Ibrahim joined the ASG as a 10-year-old fighter and was involved in numerous encounters in Sulu, where he incurred two injuries to his head and right forearm, said the statement further.
Speaking in the Tausug dialect, Ibrahim expressed resentment against his late mother who dragged him and his brothers into horrific situations where they must fight against government forces and conduct atrocities.
He said he thought that they were just going on a vacation trip in the Philippines, but he was forced to join the ASG instead.
During his surrender, Ibrahim was accompanied by Ellam, an alias, a 27-year-old subleader of the Sulu-based ASG under Radullan Sahiron a.k.a. Magang.
Ellam was recruited in 2009 when he was just 15 years old and acted as close-in security for Sahiron and a guide for the ASG in the Patikul area.
He was involved in numerous armed confrontations between the ASG and government forces from 2009 to 2021, added the statement.
Ibrahim and Ellam handed over one M16 rifle, one M16A1 rifle, one magazine and 20 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition.
They underwent custodial debriefings, after which they were presented to the 1103rd Infantry Brigade commander, Col. Christopher Tampus, at the unit’s headquarters at Camp Bud Datu, Tagbak, Indanan.
Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, the commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, commended the 1103rd Infantry Brigade troops for the remarkable accomplishment. He also attributed this success to the intelligence units in the area, the local chief executives, other stakeholders and the peace-loving people of Indanan.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, the Westmincom commander, said that the surrender of the foreign terrorist fighter and ASG subleader shows that the government has won the hearts not only of the people but also that of the remnants of the different threat groups.
“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,” Galido said.