NPA commander, 3 others yield in Southern Mindanao

BUTUAN CITY – An alleged Communist New People’s Army (NPA) commander and three other rebels surrendered to troops of the 60th Infantry Battalion (60th IB) in Southern Mindanao, Capt. Jerry S. Lamosao, chief of Public Affairs Office (CMO) of the Army’s Southern Mindanao 10th Infantry (Agila) Division (10th ID) yesterday said.

In a phone interview with The Manila Bulletin, the 10th “Agila” Division PAO officer said the NPA commander and his three men belonged to the SubRegional Committee 4 (SRC 4) of the CPP-NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

The identities of the surrenderers were temporarily withheld for their safety and security, but Lamosao said two of them belonged to the Ata-Manobo tribe in highland communities in Davao del Norte province.

During the initial interview the former rebels revealed that they were left abandoned by their comrades-inarms in the highland Kilangkog area, Barangay Kauswagan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur province, the 10th ID PAO officer said.

“Fearful for their safety, they decided to surrender upon hearing from their former supporters that 10th ID still accept surrenderers,” Lamosao said.