NPA SURRENDERER. Alias JJ, a former medic of the 'weakend' Guerilla Front 2 and a squad leader of the sub-regional guerilla unit of the communist New People's Army, surrenders to government forces in the Davao de Oro town of Mawab on Monday (Aug. 24, 2020). JJ's surrender came after six of his colleagues also yielded to the Army, citing hardships and other difficulties encountered within the communist rebel movement. (Photo courtesy of 71IB)
DAVAO CITY – A medic of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to government forces in the Davao de Oro town of Mawab, the Army's 71st Infantry Battalion (71IB) reported Tuesday.
"JJ", a former medic of the "weakened" Guerilla Front 2 and a squad leader of the sub-regional guerilla unit (SRGU) of the communist rebel group, also surrendered two high-powered firearms and ammunition to the 71IB on Monday, the Army unit said.
“I'm very tired of the extreme hardship I experienced there, much more now that many of my former comrades successively surrendered to the government,” JJ was quoted in the dialect by the 71IB as saying.
As of this posting, JJ was in the custody of the 71IB and would be enrolled in the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), under which the former rebel is expected to receive more than PHP200,000.
According to 71IB, six of JJ's comrades surrendered ahead of him and are now living a peaceful life through the help of the Davao de Oro provincial government.
"The successive surrender of the NPA members bespeaks the forthcoming collapse of the NPA operating in the 2nd District of Davao de Oro as it successively loses valuable manpower and firepower," said Lt. Col. Sonny E. Gonzales, 71IB commander. "The goal of ending local armed conflict in their locality is already at hand."
The 71IB operates in the municipalities of Mawab, Maco, Mabini, and Pantukan and four barangays of Nabunturan, all in Davao de Oro, and Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
