BY AARON B. RECUENCO
A veteran Abu Sayyaf (ASG) fighter has surrendered to the military in Sulu to take care of his two young children – the eldest is three years old while the other one is only five months old.
ASG fighter Jaber Binuri yielded with the help of a soldier friend after learning that his wife Nudsza was arrested, according to military report.
He availed of the amnesty program being offered by President Duterte to the ASG and other members of armed groups.
“After I learned of my wife’s arrest, I told my commander Ben Wagas that I have to take a vacation to bring my children to my relatives to Zamboanga. He agreed,” Binuri told the military officials after his surrender in Sulu. “But unknown to him, I already contacted my friend in the military who helped me surrender,” he added.
Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commanding general of the 11th Infantry Division and concurrent commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said Binuri is actually among the five ASG members who turned themselves in to the local military forces.
“Binuri was under the command of deceased ASG leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan. He joined the ASG in 2013 and then joined the group of Ben Wagas after Sawadjaan died,” said Gonzales.
Binuri is considered as a veteran in fighting police and military forces. He said he participated in at least 31 gun battles with the military in the past seven years.
Gonzales said the desire to be with his children was not denied for Binuri right after he surrendered. In fact, he said Binuri was with his three-year-old child during the entire custodial debriefing.
Lt. Col. Nelicar Corsino, commander of the 15 Civil Military Operations, said Binuri and the four other ASG members will be subjected to a series of custodial debriefings to prepare them to go back to their normal lives.
“He is still adjusting but he is doing well,” said Corsino about Binuri.
Binuri’s wife was one of the eight women arrested for allegedly training to make bombs and possibly to become suicide bombers. She was charged with illegal possession of explosive devices which was allegedly seized from her during a raid in their lair.
When interviewed, Nudsza told the military that she is a widow and that her husband was already dead.
“Jaber and Nudsza’s story is a stark example of how terrorism has put its claws on the integrity of a family,” said Gonzales.
“Fortunately, Jaber’s duties as a father won over his loyalty to the ASG. I commend his guts for coming forward. I personally assured him that his trust on us will not be put to waste,” he added.
