NINE MEMBERS of the Abu Sayyaf Group yielded to troops of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion in Sulu last July 15, the military reported late Wednesday. Upon surrender, they also turned over their weapons consisting of seven high-powered and two low-powered firearms. “I would like to attribute this success to the loving people of Sulu who continuously support us in our campaign against the Abu Sayyaf,” Lt. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), said in a statement. “We anticipate that in the coming days, the remaining bandits will opt to lay down their arms and choose to live a peaceful life,” Mr. Sobejana added. Also last Monday, a high-ranking member of the group was killed in Basilan after attempting to elude arrest by government troops. “Arod Wahing pulled his gun and grenade when security forces raided his safe house,” Brig. Gen. Fernando M. Reyeg, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, said in a separate statement also released by WestMinCom. A native of Bud Bunga in Talipao, Sulu, Wahing was one of the suspects in the kidnappings of Dutch Ewold Horn in 2012 and a German couple in 2014. “He is a trusted follower of Abu Sayyaf top leader Radullan Sahiron in Sulu,” Mr. Reyeg said, “He, however, fled to Basilan to escape the series of armed engagements with military forces in Sulu.” Mr. Sobejana said there will be no let up in their “focused and support operations” while convergence programs are being implemented “in the hope that we may totally defeat the Abu Sayyaf, and let peace and development reign in Mindanao.”

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