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23 NPAs yield in Davao Norte, Agusan Sur provinces

By Rhoda Grace Saron

July 11, 2019, 8:37 pm

DAVAO CITY -- At least 23 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), have surrendered to the various Balik-Loob Assistance Centers (BLAC) of the Army's 60th Infantry Battalion within this month.

1Lt. Amadeus Celestial, 60IB civil-military operations officer, said the former rebels decided to turn themselves in following the "intensive military operations" in the hinterland areas of Davao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

Celestial said some of the surrenderers turned over firearms and explosives, including an M14 rifle, a Garand rifle, a Carbine rifle, two 9-mm Uzi guns, and a 12-gauge shotgun.

He said 16 of the surrenderers were regular NPA members while the rest were members of the rebels' paramilitary group Militia ng Bayan.

Celestial said the rebel returnees used to operate under five NPA guerilla fronts, some of which has been dismantled by the military.

The Army official attributed the surrender of the former rebels to the government's multi-stakeholder approach that creates "social pressure" and an environment conducive to their return to the folds of the law. (NPA)

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