NPA commander surrenders; one dies in military offensive

CAMP DATU MAKAPANDONG, Awa New Leyte, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur - An alleged team commander of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) terrorist has voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 36th Infantry (Valor) Battallion (36th IB) in Sitio Upper Mambago, Barangay Dayoan, Tago, Surigao del Sur.

In Agusan del Norte, an NPA terrorist was killed while an undetermined number of other communistterrorists were believed wounded when a gun battle erupted on the first day of the ‘Lenten Week’ observance between government security forces and the NPA.

Capt. Francisco P. Garello, Jr., chief of Civil Military Operation (CMO) of the 36th IB, said the identity of the NPA commander who surrendered was temporarily withheld for his security. He was an NPA Squad 1 commander, Sangay sa Platun Pangpropaganda 3 (SPP3) of Guerilla-Front Committee (GFC30) of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

He yielded Sunday night) to the command group of 36th “Valor” Battalion led by Lt. Col. Xerxes A. Trinidad, Capt. Garello said.

The NPA commander also turned over one M1 Garand Rifle, one .38 caliber pistol and one improvised/ homemade rifle with live ammunitions.

His surrender was facilitated by Datu Jomar Sabas Bucales, a Manobo tribal leader of the municipality of Lianga, Surigao del Sur province, assisted by Maj. Jerson B. Igloria of the 4th CMO Battalion, 4th ID, Capt. Garello said.

“The NPA team commander bolted his camp somewhere in Diwata ranges in Surigao del Sur last April 2017 and went into hiding,” said Garello.

“He was already tired of the movement especially with their unjust policies, the promises made by the CPP-NPA of providing his family with financial support, education, and resolving land issues were all but lies,” Garello quoted the NPA commander as saying.

Meanwhile, the identity of the slain NPA terrorist was not immediately available. The cadaver was brought to the barangay for identification by the villagers.

A flash report said that combat maneuvering troops of the Army’s 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battallion (29th IB) recovered one unit AK 47 rifle with live ammunitions and one unit cellular phone.

Initial report said one Scout Platoon of the 29th IB was conducting security operations and combat patrol when it chanced upon an undetermined number of rebels believed to belong to Guerilla Front Committee 21-C (GFC 21-C) of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) at about 2:45 p.m. on Monday.

The firefight lasted for more than ten minutes, 29th IB commander Lt. Col. Glenn Aynera said.