THREE members of the Communist New Peoples Army (NPA) members voluntarily surrendered, turning over five firearms to the Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade’s Operational Control units on September 12, 2023, as disclosed by Civil Military Operations Officer, Captain Niño Benjamin R. Benjamin.
Benjamin said the surrender took place at Claveria, Misamis Oriental, and Agusan del Norte.
The surrender was attributed to the intensified military operations led by Brigadier General Adonis Ariel G. Orio, according to Benjamin.
“The brigade’s mission is to eliminate the remnants of the Communist Group by the end of 2023,” he said.
He added that the focused operations, coupled with stakeholder engagement and constant intelligence monitoring, have resulted in a series of encounters, cornering the rebels and leaving them with the choice to surrender or face neutralization.
The surrendered rebels were identified as Jhony Omandam Gapol, also known as Regor, and Emerita Aporbo Lor, known by several aliases.
Both were members of the Regional Office Command of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
They surrendered to the 58th Infantry Battalion with an M14 rifle and an Ingram Pistol Cal. 9mm, respectively.
On the same day, Randy Malinao Butao, a member of the Milisyang Bayan (MB) and identified as Yang or Dodong, voluntarily surrendered two M16 rifles and an AK47 rifle to the 23rd Infantry Battalion.
The former rebels cited organizational collapse, leadership crisis, longing for their families, and the relentless military operation as reasons for their surrender.
The former rebels are now in the custody of the 23rd and 58th Infantry Battalions.
Benjamin said they will undergo documentation, debriefing, and a needs assessment survey to determine their eligibility for the Enhance Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Brig. General Orio noted that threats in their area of responsibility are significantly decreasing.
He credits the “Whole of the Nation Approach,” which involves strong collaborations with stakeholders and government forces, for these successes.
He further urged remaining communist groups to surrender peacefully and start a new life under the protection of the government.
Orio reaffirmed that the Stingers Troopers would continue to intensify their operations to defeat threats, ensure public safety, and uphold peace.
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