By FRANCIS WAKEFIELD • NONOY LACSON
Abu Sayyaf leader Nhurhassan Jamiri and 13 of his followers have surrendered in Basilan, a development seen as the beginning of the end of the terrorist group responsible for bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortion in the region since 1991.
On Wednesday, Jamiri and his men were met by soldiers of the Joint Task Force Basilan in the rendezvous area and brought to the headquarters of the 9th Scout Ranger Company and the 104Bde in Tabiawan, Isabela City, according to task force chief Brigadier General Juvymax Uy.
The group turned over 10 high-powered firearms, 40 assorted ammunition magazines, 651 pieces of live ammunition, a MK52 fragmentation grenade, and eight bandoleers. The high-powered firearms consisted of seven M16 rifles, an M4 carbine, an M653 rifle, and an M14 rifle.
“Following Jamiri’s surrender, we expect the other top leaders of the Abu Sayyaf to do the same in the upcoming days,” said Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Armed Forces (AFP) Western Mindanao Command.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday said he hopes that this would lead to the eventual collapse of the ASG, restore peace and order in Basilan and bring justice to the death of thousands of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in defense of the people.
“The surrender of Jamiri’s unit was a result of an inter-agency collaboration of our security forces and strong support of local government units which facilitated the negotiations,” Lorenzana said.
The defense chief lauded the efforts of Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu as well as key security stakeholders in Basilan that include Gov. Jim Hataman, Vice Mayor Cherilyn Akbar of Isabela City, and Ustadz Hud Limaya, deputy commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“Our various efforts at forging peace with various armed groups under the leadership of President Duterte are now reaping success. We hope this will continue to gain momentum in order to achieve peace without any bloodshed,” Lorenzana said.
The Basilan task force is composed of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, 8th and 9th Scout Ranger Companies, 104th Infantry Brigade; 74th Infantry Battalion and 14th Light Armor Company.
A total of 216 ASG fighters have surrendered, including 100 based in Basilan.
Jamiri is the overall ASG commander operating in Tuburan, Albarka, Tipo-tipo, Akbar, Mohamad Adjul and Lamitan City.
He is also the operations officer and chief of the Urban Terrorist Group of Basilan. His group gained notoriety for carrying out the Fort Pilar bombing in Zamboanga City in 2002, the death of 24 marines following an ambush in Albarka in 2007, the killing of 19 Special Forces students in Cambug, Albarka, and the 2001 Lamitan siege.
The Jamiri Group also hosted the Sulu-based ASG which conducted seajacking and kidnapping of Vietnamese vessels and sailors crossing the Basilan Strait. Its members also perpetrated several IED attacks in the cities of Isabela, Lamitan, Zamboanga, as well as kidnapping-for-ransom and extortion activities in Basilan province.
