SURRENDERERS. Police and Army officials in Sarangani province pose with 13 former members of the New People's Army who surrendered on Monday (Dec. 9, 2019) in the upland barangay of Sapu Masla, Malapatan town. The rebels were reportedly convinced to surrender during simultaneous internal security operations in the area. (Photo courtesy of the PRO-12)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- At least 13 members of the New People’s Army (NPA), some of them facing various charges, surrendered on Monday to military and police authorities in Sarangani province.
Lt. Col. Lino Capellan, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-12, said Tuesday the rebels decided to yield during a joint police and Army operation in the outskirts of Barangay Sapu Masla, Malapatan town in Sarangani.
Capellan said the operation was led by elements from the Sarangani police’s intelligence branch, provincial mobile force company, Malapatan police station and the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion.
“They successfully convinced the rebels to surrender during the simultaneous internal security operations,” he told reporters.
Capellan said the surrenderers, all from indigenous tribes, were former members of the NPA's Guerilla Front 71-Far South Mindanao Region.
They were identified as Baguil Dawang, Jun Dawang, Jessie Dawang, Jamie Dawang, Marwin Londong, Yano Yaran, Rayson Yaran, Mario Yaran, Willie Dawang, Loreno Tayal alias “Lawin,” Jimmy Dalama, Reynie Balandan and Markes Londong.
Capellan said the rebels surrendered an M16 rifle, a Springfield rifle and an M79 grenade launcher with three rounds of ammunition.
“They decided to surrender due to extreme anxiety and psychological pressure as a result of the all-out combat operations (against them),” he said.
Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus, PRO-12 director, credited the surrender to the successful counterinsurgency efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the province.
Corpus said over 20 NPA rebels have already surrendered since the capture last October of Nicanor Claro Pason, a ranking leader of the NPA’s Front 73, in a checkpoint in Maitum, Sarangani.
Since January, he said a total of 101 have surrendered while 24 were arrested in a series of joint PNP and AFP operations.
Two rebels were reported killed while 67 firearms and 15 explosives, composed of eight grenades, four landmines and three improvised explosive devices were also seized.
“This accomplishment just shows that we are serious in our counter-terrorism campaign,” Corpus said in a statement.
He added that they will assist the enrolment of the surrenderers into the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and the availment of financial and livelihood assistance from the local and national governments. (PNA)
