Possible member of armed group surrenders

A POTENTIAL member of a Private Armed Group (PAG) with ties to criminal gangs has surrendered to authorities in Basilan province, police said on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

Police Brigadier General Bowenn Joey Masauding, director of the Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Police Office, withheld the surrenderer’s identity for security reasons as he was involved in clan conflicts, better known as “rido” in Sumisip, Basilan, that started in 2019.

Masauding said the surrenderer, a 24-year-old man, reported to the Isabela City Police Station in Sunrise Village on Tuesday, September 17, at around 11:34 a.m.

Furthermore, Masauding said the surrenderer is believed to have links to criminal gangs as he sympathises with the Anjawani Group, which operates in the region.

He said the extradition of the 24-year-old potential PAG member was facilitated by personnel of the Regional Intelligence Unit-9 (RIU-9), in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU)-Basilan and the Provincial Intelligence Unit-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The handover was attended by officials from Barangay Lebbuh, Lamitan City, who played a crucial role in facilitating dialogue and building trust between law enforcement and the community.

“This successful operation underscores the continued efforts of RIU-9, CIDU-9, PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula and our partner organizations in the region to combat violence and promote peace,” Masauding said.

“We encourage other members of armed groups to surrender and reintegrate into society,” he added. (Sunstar Zamboanga)