The Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) reported that remaining members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Northern Mindanao are facing food shortages, a situation that has contributed to a rise in rebel surrenders.
Maj. Gen. Michelle Anayron, commander of the 4ID, said recently surrendered rebels often requested food during their extraction from mountain areas.
“If there are surrenderers, their number one request when we pick them up is food,” Anayron said in an interview with IFM-RMN DXCC during the 4ID’s 56th founding anniversary celebration on Monday.
He added that the military continues efforts to disrupt the rebels’ logistics and support systems to weaken their operations.
“If we cannot engage or encounter them, we cut off their supplies,” he said.
Last week, two senior NPA officials surrendered to the 8th Infantry Battalion in Bukidnon. Identified as Marren and Nora Manseguiao, the couple served as finance officer and food operations officer, respectively, under the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC). They had been with the group since 1990.
The couple surrendered two M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, a long magazine loaded with 26 rounds of live ammunition, and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher.
Military records show their areas of operation covered several towns in Misamis Oriental — Tagoloan, Villanueva, Jasaan, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Salay, Sugbongcogon, Kinoguitan, Balingoan, Talisayan, Medina, Claveria, Magsaysay and Gingoog City — as well as parts of Bukidnon, including Malitbog, Manolo Fortich and Impasug-ong.
Brig. Gen. Seigfred Tubalado, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, described the surrender of senior leaders as a significant boost to the government’s counterinsurgency campaign and urged remaining rebels to lay down their arms.
Anayron said the NPA’s strength and support base in the region have significantly declined.
Based on military estimates, about 25 NPA members remain under the NCMRC, while around 12 others operate in adjacent areas, bringing the total to about 37 in Northern Mindanao, including those under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
She said Joint Task Force Diamond aims to end the insurgency threat in the area by the end of March.
Anayron also encouraged remaining rebels to surrender, noting that even long-serving members have chosen to return to mainstream society.
