MANILA – A total of 119 communist terrorists have voluntarily surrendered as a result of "intense military operations" from May 17 to 23, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Monday.
Aside from this, two rebels were killed and another three were arrested in the same period, AFP public affairs office chief, Navy Captain Jonathan Zata, said in a statement.
Of this number, 36 surrendered in the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) area, one was killed, and three were apprehended; 82 surrendered in the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), and one surrendered and another was killed in the operational area of the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom).
"(This is a) combination of focused military operations, CMO (civil-military operations), and extensive support from the local populace. The program under the NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) that benefitted other returnees further encouraged other rebels to return to the fold of the law," Zata said.
These surrenders from May 17-23 were as follows:
In Eastmincom, a rebel with alias "Bakal" yielded to 36th Infantry Battalion (IB) troops in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on May 17.
Meanwhile, 29 communist rebels surrendered to the 88th Infantry Battalion in San Fernando, Bukidnon on May 18. On the same day, two rebels with aliases "Jimboy‟ and "Meme‟ surrendered to government forces in Magpet, North Cotabato, while a rebel with alias "Camal" gave up to the 56th IB in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
Also on May 18, a rebel was killed in an encounter in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
On May 19, two communist terrorists with aliases "Kaypee" and "Wena" surrendered to the Army's 23rd IB in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte while another rebel with alias "Loko" yielded to authorities in South Cotabato on May 22.
Meanwhile, two communist terrorists were arrested in separate operations in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, and Lianga, Surigao del Sur on May 19 while another one was captured in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte on May 20.
In Nolcom, a rebel with alias "Red‟ surrendered in Bulacan on May 18 while 81 other communist terrorists surrendered in Nueva Ecija from May 21 to 23.
In Solcom, an alias "Jigs‟ surrendered to authorities in Macalelon, Quezon while government troops killed another rebel in a firefight in Iriga City, Camarines Sur on May 22.
The military also seized 18 high-powered firearms, five improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and 413 assorted ammunition during the same period.
“The increasing support of communities and local government units through the NTF ELCAC contribute to the continued success of the AFP’s operation against the Communist Terrorist Groups,” AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said.
He added that the AFP will not stop until it has completely destroyed the armed capabilities of the communist terrorists who continue to threaten the safety and security of Filipinos aside from hampering peace and development initiatives in the country. (PNA)
