Terrorist leader 'dies' of injuries, 14 of his men surrender to Philippine army
Leader supposedly dies of injuries sustained in skirmishes on June 3.
BASILAN: An Abu Sayyaf Group subleader reportedly succumbed to his injuries sustained during firefights with Philippine government troops leading to the surrender of 14 of his men, an army official has said.
The Basilan province-based Pasil Bayali “reportedly succumbed to death due to the wounds he incurred in earlier skirmishes with government troops,” said Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, commander of the army’s Basilan-based 101st Infantry Brigade, in a statement on Thursday (Oct. 5).
Luzon said the 14 ASG bandits surrendered on Wednesday (Oct. 4) through the collaborative efforts of local government units, security sector and the community.
Bayali was reported to have been wounded when troops overran an ASG encampment in Sitio Lobloban Guiong village, Sumisip municipality, Basilan, on June 3.
Apparently, authorities have not found Bayali’s body, raising concern if this is the terror leader’s faked death.
Some terrorist leaders in the southern Philippines in the past had their deaths reported, only to have reappeared later in person or on social media.
The 14 ASG surrendered personalities were identified as Absar Amana, Najer Lakibul, Etang Awal, Masber Hoben, Tot Awal, Omar Salim Awal, Omar Kabak, Rey Sakilan, Marjim Barillo, Hariya Palinta, Puran Abuhon, Aksan Mijan, Abu Ngut (an alias) and Abu Matsur (also an alias).
The 14 surrendered amid the government’s intensified counterterrorism campaign coupled with the reported death of their leader, Luzon said.
Luzon presented them to Major General Ignatius Patrimonio, the Joint Task Force-Orion commander, at Camp Luis Biel II, the 101st Bde’s headquarters, in Tabiawan village, Isabela City, Basilan.
“The loss of their significant leader had thrown them into disarray, forcing them to bend over to the fold of the law,” Luzon said.
The surrendered terrorists handed 13 high powered firearms, namely five M-16 Armalite rifles, one M653 rifle, two M-14 rifles, one Garand rifle, two M-79 grenade launchers and two 9-mm Intratec TEC-KG9 assault rifles.
Patrimonio said: “We will remain steadfast in fostering peace and sustainable development in the province, we will work as one to make Basilan free from terrorism.”
Major General Steve Crespillo, Western Mindanao Command chief, commended the JTF-Orion for the influx of ASG surrenders in Basilan province.
“Rest assured that our troops will continue to employ the whole-of-nation approach to eradicate terrorism and we are able to transform Mindanao into a better place to live in,” Crespillo added.