Eastmincom receives 13 NPA Surrenders during Holy Week

photo courtesy of 39IB

NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – NSFA, Panacan, Davao City.-Thirteen regular armed members of the CPP- NPA Terrorist (CNT) Group return to the folds of the law to the different units of Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) during the holy week.

In the morning of Good Friday, April 19, 2019, Joint efforts of 39IB and Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office facilitated the surrender of three CNTs at Barangay Colonsabak, Matanao, Davao Del Sur.

Accordingly, the three (one Vice Team Leader and two elements) who belong to the CNT Group being monitored in the quad boundary of Davao del Sur, North and South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat were part of the group that were encountered by the 39IB in the same Barangay on April 1, 2019. Since then the three became paranoid and were always on the run until they took hold of an E-CLIP leaflet which was further explained by members of the community through an E-CLIP tarpaulin posted in the Barangay which made them decide to surrender.

Alias Dante, Alias Jek and Alias Garry brought with them three fire arms (M16, M14 and Garand rifles) in their surrender.

Another CNTG member identified as alias Rosman, 18, a resident of Lianga, Surigao del Sur also surrendered to the the same unit on April 19, 2019 to 3rd SF Battalion. He brought with him (1) cal. 5.56mm M16 Rifle.

photo courtesy of DPAO, 4ID

On Maundy Thursday, April 18, 2019, six regular CNTs and 14 Militia ng Bayan (MB) surrendered to the 3rd Special Forces Battalion while 30 members of the underground mass organization from Sitio Kahayag, Barangay Banag-banag and Sitio Bantolinao, Barangay Padiay of Sibagat Municipality, Agusan Del Sur. The combined group brought with them one M653 rifle, one Cal.22 rifle, six 12 gauge homemade shotguns, two cal .38 pistols, and one fragmentation grenade.

In a separate occasion, alias Joy, 18, a resident of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur and an active medic of CNTG in Northeastern Mindanao surrendered last April 17 and brought with her one Cal. 30 M1 Carbine Rifle, one Shotgun and medical supplies.

photo courtesy of DPAO, 4ID

In her revelation, alias Joy, decided to surrender after hearing the arrest of her party boyfriend, Robert Tejero Calipay Alyas Satur/Arpak, a leader of CNTG in the same area last April 14, 2019 by the troops of the 75th Infantry Battalion.

The female rebel returnee also revealed that she was only 16 years old when she was recruited, a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

In Bukidnon, a certain alias Jeffry (NPSRL), 22 years old, Team Leader, of CNTG in North Central Mindanao and his wife identified as alias Maymay, 27 years old, and a member of the medical Pltn of the same CNTG, voluntarily surrendered without firearms to Ltc. Ronald M Illana, Commander of 8IB at Brgy Poblacion, Impasugong, Bukidnon in the morning of April 17, 2019.

photo courtesy of  DPAO, 4ID

Units in charge are now conducting interview and debriefing of the surrenderees in preparation for their enrollment to E-CLIP and other Government assistance.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen Felimon T. Santos Jr., Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command lauded the effort of the communities and the units.

"We have truly practice the message of Holyweek when we reached out to the lost soul and deceived to join the organization espousing evil armed struggle. Let us continue to be ambassadors of peace by letting those who were lost understand the effort of the government to bring peace and change in the lives of every Filipino and facilitate the resolution of push and pull issues of people joining the armed group." Lt. Gen. Santos Jr. said.

Source:  Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command