Nine Abu Sayyaf terrorists detained in the southern province of Sulu

The Philippine military announced on Wednesday the surrender of nine Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the southern province of Sulu.

It said members of the 6th Special Forces, 21st and 45th Infantry Battalions facilitated the surrender of the terrorists in Indanan town. They also yielded five rifles and two sub-machine guns and ammunition.

This was also confirmed by Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Sulu. He said the terrorists surrendered on August 9, but this was announced late for still unknown reasons.

But Gonzales said: “These people have once gone astray. We are glad that they choose a life of peace instead of hiding.”

One of those who surrendered, Totoh Engal, admitted to the military his involvement in the kidnappings of 21 mostly European holidaymakers from the posh dive resort island of Sipadan in Sabah; and clashed with security forces in Sulu that wounded him.
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Enggal said in Filipino that he left his eldest child who was two years old at that time to join the group.

He recalled that they kept on walking in the mountain when he was hit by five bullets on his shoulder at the height of the fighting in Sulu.

He said this was his second life and was thankful for the chance to be with his family again.

Gonzales lauded the efforts of the soldiers in convincing the terrorists to surrender peacefully. He said the surrenderees will be given government assistance.

It was unclear whether the terrorists would be absolved of their crimes or not, but previous Abu Sayyaf surrenderees had received financial and livelihood aids for them to start new lives with their families.

Source: Manila Times