ANOTHER member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has surrendered, bringing the number of ASG surrenderers in Basilan province to 11 since January this year, the military reported.

Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the intensified non-combat operations of the military units in Basilan led to the surrender Sunday, April 25, of Abdul Asnulan Akil alias Abz, a resident of Kamamburingan village, Ungkaya Pukan municipality.

Vinluan said that Akil is a follower of the notorious Basilan-based ASG leader Radzmil Jannatul, alias Khubayb.

He said Akil yielded a caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle with 18 live ammunition.

Brigadier General Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander, said Akil has a standing warrant of arrest for murder, as he was involved in the April 22, 2018 beheading of four residents of Kamamburingan village, Ungkaya Pukan.

Gobway attributed the surrender of Akil to the command's peace efforts facilitated by the different intelligence units in Basilan province.

Akil said that he decided to surrender as he is starving while evading the government forces, according to Gobway.

"He is happy that he now has a chance to start anew and live in peace," he added. (SunStar Zamboanga)