SEIZED NPA FIREARMS. The Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion present the four AK-47 rifles, one M1 Garand rifle, four AK-47 magazines, and ammunition they recovered from the communist New People’s Army rebels at Sitio Mahogany, Barangay Ibuan in Las Nieves town, Agusan del Norte on Monday (March 28, 2022). A female NPA surrenderer wounded during the series of gun battles in the area pinpointed the location of the arms cache. (Photo courtesy of 23IB)
BUTUAN CITY – An 18-year-old female New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who surrendered after getting wounded during a series of clashes with government forces has revealed the location of the group's stash of firearms and ammunition in Agusan del Norte, a military official said Tuesday.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Julius Cesar Paulo, the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said alias "MJ", the political guide of Squad Dos (Joker), Platoon Sagay, NPA Sub-Regional 3, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC), voluntarily surrendered on Monday.
MJ sustained a wound on her left calf during the running gun battles between the 23IB troops and Squad Dos of NCMRC, NPA on February 4 and March 16 in Barangay Tungao here.
Upon her surrender, MJ pinpointed to 23IB intelligence operatives the exact location of concealed firearms and ammunition in Sitio Mahogany, Barangay Ibuan, Las Nieves town.
Recovered from the area were four AK-47 rifles, one M1 Garand rifle, four AK-47 magazines, and live ammunition.
MJ, meanwhile, was immediately transported by the 23IB troopers to a medical facility in Agusan del Norte for treatment, Paulo said.
“Despite the history of Alias MJ being an enemy of the state and having inflicted harm to the government troops in the past, the 23IB troopers have manifested professionalism in handling her during her difficult physical condition, and with full respect for her human rights,” he added.
He said the recent encounters were the result of the failed attempt of the rebels to re-infiltrate far-flung communities here and in Las Nieves.
“This is a manifestation that the people are awakening from the lies and deceptions of the NPA rebels and refused to be victims again of their exploitations and violence,” Paulo said.
Paulo urged the remaining NPA insurgents in the area to surrender.
The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)
