Sickness and Hardship inside NPA Org Forced Members to Voluntarily Surrender, Arms Cache Revealed

ARAKAN, North Cotabato – 16th Infantry (Maglilingkod) Battalion welcomed the voluntary surrender of six (6) New People’s Army members together with their firearms to the unit’s headquarters at Sitio Guitawan, Poblacion, Arakan, North Cotabato last November 10, 2020.

They were identified as ‘Lyndon’, 30yrs old; ‘Saysay’, 19yrs old; ‘Taya’, 21yrs old; ‘Jojo’, 26yrs old; ‘Jake’, 26yrs old; and ‘Jen’, 21yrs old, who are all members of Guerilla Front 53.

According to them, their voluntary surrender and decision to leave the armed group was due to their hardships and sickness inside the organization with the hope of celebrating the best Christmas since their affiliation with the NPAs. One of the members also revealed that the group left assorted war materials to a trusted courier of Zaldy Gulmatico Pulido (Ka Joel).

It can be recalled that Ka Joel was the secretary of Guerilla Front 53 who died in an encounter last October 24, 2020.

An informant tip-off led to the location of several high-powered firearms, Improvised Explosive Device (IED), ammunitions, and different war materials.

A day after, the 16th Infantry (Maglilingkod) Battalion discovered the arms cache and retrieved different war materials at Sitio Kaludcod, Brgy Kabalantian, Arakan, North Cotabato on November 11, 2020.

Sacks containing one (1) M16A1 5.56mm rifle, one (1) M4 5.56mm rifle, one (1) M653 5.56mm rifle, one (1) 5kgs IED, eight (8) 500g IED, three (3) long magazines, six (6) short magazines, 222 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and three (3) chest rig bandoliers were dug up at about two (2) feet in a vegetated area, Southwest of Sitio Kaludcod.

The retrieved war materials are in the unit’s custody for documentation and proper disposition. Furthermore, the said personalities are now undergoing interviews, custodial debriefing, and proper documentation for their firearms.

As Christmas is fast approaching, the call intensifies on our few remaining brothers and sisters that have been deceived by the propagandas of the Communist-Terrorists Groups to surrender and have a chance of living peaceful and productive lives.


Source: Civil-Military Operations Office, 16th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, PA