14 armed NPAs yield in Agusan del Sur

BUTUAN CITY – Fourteen New People’s Army (NPA) members turned themselves in to military authorities Monday in Agusan del Sur, according to the Civil Military Operations (CMO) office of the 26th Infantry Battalion (26th IB).

According 26th IB CMO spokesman Second Lt. Rommel Arnado the NPA terrorists also surrendered 16 high-powered firearms and ammunition tio 26th IB commander Lt. Col. Rommel Pagayon. They used to belong to guertilla-Front Committees 88 and 89 of the CPP-NPA Northeastern and Southern Mindanao Regional Committees that operate in Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley.

“For fear of being killed by the all-out offensive of the government security forces and also tired to keep on running in the mountains are among the reasons why they return to the fold of the government,” Arnado said.

Despite the surrender of some of its fighters, the NPA nevertheless continued to sow fear in Agusan del Sur when it set up a checkpoint Tuesday along the national highway, ahead of the anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on December 26.

An initial report from the Rosario Municipal Police Station (MPS) showed that some 20 heavily armed NPAs conducted roadblock at Road 75, National Highway (Agusan Sur - Surigao Sur Road), Purok Jerusalem, Barangay Sta. Maria, about 25 kilometers from this town at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

The NPA terrorists seemed to be looking for uniformed men from vehicles plying to Bislig City, Surigao del Sur from Trento town, Agusan del Sur while conducting their road block, Rosario MPS sources said.

According to commuters the road blockade lasted for three hours as responding elements of Rosario MPS were only alerted by the phone calls from local residents.