NPA rebel, 18, surrenders; others withdraw support

AN 18-YEAR-OLD communist guerrilla surrendered to the 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Barangay Janipaan, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur on June 30.

Alias Junix brought with him one M16A1 rifle with M203 grenade launcher.

Capt. Regie Go, the spokesperson of the 4th ID, said in 94 members of the underground mass organization (Ugmo) in Caraga Region surrendered to the 30th Infantry Battalion on June 27. The Ugmo members were from barangays Ima, and Mayag, Tolingin, and Tobongan of Surigao City.

They brought with them 20 homemade shotguns.

“I surrendered because I was tired and I saw the many programs that will be able to help me live a better and peaceful life,” Junix said.

In Northern Mindanao, 10 NPA regulars, 10 Milisya ng Bayan members, and 4 Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) members from Sitio Lakbangan, Barangay Minalwang, Claveria, Misamis Oriental surrendered to the 58th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col Roy Anthony O Derillo last June 26.

According to the surrenderees, they grew tired of fighting and supporting the NPA who gave them nothing in return.

Alias Miko, an NPA regular from Barangay San Rafael, Talakag, surrendered to the elements of 65th IB and another 10 Ugmo members from Sitio Buco, Barangay Banlag, Valencia City and Barangay Magsaysay, Quezon also surrendered to the elements of 88th IB on June 28, 2019.

Caraga launched the Regional Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) during the Joint Regional Development Council (RDC)-Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center in Barangay Doongon, Butuan

City last June 26.

Region X also launched both the CAPDev program in Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon during the Northern Mindanao Joint RDC-RPOC meeting in Kaamulan Open Theatre, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon last June 28.

The launching of the two “super bodies” will lead, synchronize and harmonize government efforts of combating and crushing the local insurgency in Regions 10 and CARAGA was a milestone especially in the implementation and operationalization of President Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 70.

Maj. Gen. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal, commander of the 4th ID, said, “The influx of surrenders will not be possible without the support of the different LGUs, LGAs and other stakeholders in Regions 13 and 10. With the recent launching of the RTF-ELCAC and the full implementation of the PDZ and CAPDev, we are expecting snowballs of surrenders from the NPA members and its supporters.”