8 more NPAs surrender in Mindoro

Another eight members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who belong to the Mangyan tribe surrendered to government authorities in Oriental Mindoro over the weekend.

A report from the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office said the eight rebels to the Community Support Program (CSP) troops of the 76th Infantry Battalion (76th IB) in Sitio Culasisi, Barangay Batong Buhay, Sablayan, last Sunday.

Lt. Col. Mario Lito Retirva, 76th IB commander, said the surrenderers served as NPA contacts in the villages.

“They also operate along with the NPA regulars when the group is in need of additional manpower to conduct atrocities such as ambush, sniping, and extortions,” Retirva said.

During interviews, the rebels admitted they held key positions in communist organizations, from the “Samahan ng Magsasaka” to “Samahan ng Kababaihan” and “Samahan ng Kabataan.” These are organizations created by the rebels in barangays where they wield an influence.

Still in Mindoro, the 76th IB recovered on Tuesday three M16 rifles buried by the NPAs in the forested area of Sitio Kabilugan, Barangay San Vicente, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.

The location of the arms cache was revealed by former rebels who surrendered last December. Soldiers trekked for two days to reach the cache site.

Last October, two arms cache were also discovered by the 76th IB in Mindoro which led to the recovery of 12 high-powered firearms.

Col. Marceliano Teofilo, 203rd Infantry Brigade commander, who has operational jurisdiction over Mindoro island, said the events are clear signs that the NPA leadership in Mindoro is incompetent, their strength diminished, and they have lost control over their members.