5 communist leaders surrender

DAVAO CITY – Five squad leaders of the communists New People’s Army (NPA) voluntarily surrendered to various units of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division (10th ID) of the Philippine Army from October 20 to 23, a military report said.

The NPA leaders, whose true identities were withheld while they are being processed for security reasons, were only identified by the Army as alias Idol, Ian, Dindin, John-John and Angie.

In a statement released to the media here Saturday afternoon, it was said that the NPA leaders gave themselves up to the various battalions of the 10th ID in the areas of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Tagum City in Davao del Norte.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, chief of the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of 10th ID said “Idol” was the squad leader of guerrilla front 73 of the NPAs in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and surrendered to the troops of 27th IB last October 20 while “Ian,” the team leader of guerrilla front 71 in Alabel, Sarangani town was accompanied by a barangay kagawad when he yielded to 73rd IB in Malita, Davao del Sur also on the same date. The latter turned himself in with his eight-month pregnant wife, “Ali Anjie.”

He added that “Dindin,” the squad leader under guerrilla front 25 in Montevista, Compostela Valley surrendered to the troops of 10th Civil Military Operations Battalion last October 21 in Tagum City, “John-John,” team leader under guerrilla front 73 surrendered to the elements of 73rd IB with the help of a village leader in Malita, Davao Occidental.