RECOVERED FIREARMS. The firearms seized by the Army's 72nd Infantry Battalion in Magpet, North Cotabato after a New People’s Army surrenderer led soldiers to the rebels’ firearms repository several days after his surrender on Sept. 29, 2019. Government troopers also found anti-personnel mines and ammunition (inset) at the site. (Photo courtesy of 72nd IB)
COTABATO CITY – An active member of the communist New Peoples’ Army (NPA) has voluntarily surrendered to military authorities in Magpet, North Cotabato and led soldiers to the location of the rebels’ arms storehouse in the hinterlands of the municipality.
Lt. Colonel Rey Alvarado Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said in a statement Thursday that the NPA guerilla, whose identity was kept for security reasons, decided to give up rebellion through the prodding of his family.
The surrenderer, a team leader of Special Partisan Unit of the NPA Guerilla Front 53, yielded on Sept. 29 but was only made public by the Army on Thursday, October 3.
Several days after his surrender, the ex-NPA rebel, guided soldiers to a site where rebels store their firearms. Government troops recovered three high powered rifles, ammunition, and anti-personnel mines at the site.
The surrender came after more than 400 former NPA rebels and mass-based supporters denounce the communist movement after undergoing a peacebuilding seminar in Poblacion Magpet, North Cotabato last month.
Carrying banners, streamers, and megaphones, the former communist rebels told their comrades who remain active to stop exploiting poor farmers in Magpet.
The 72IB conducted immersion to nine barangays since March this year in line with its CSP responsibility.
As part of the implementation of Executive Order 70, mandating the government’s whole of nation approach against insurgency, speakers from various government agencies took turns in educating the NPA mass-based supporters on the evils of the communist movement.
In one of the gatherings, Edgar Hantoc, village chair of Barangay Balete, lauded the Army efforts to win the hearts of residents in his village.
“We are now enlightened that we were just fooled by these communists. We are just victims,” he said.
Magpet Mayor Florenito Gonzaga lauded the 72nd IB for being their partner in peace and development efforts in the municipality.
The NPA, together with the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
