TIRED REBELS. The Philippine Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion welcomes the surrender of communist New People’s Army (NPA) leader Badong Gumansel Lipanda and five of his followers on Saturday (Sept. 17, 2022) in Agusan del Sur. Lipanda is a top rebel leader in Agusan del Sur, serving as commanding officer of NPA Platoon Banglas, Sub-Regional Committee, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee of the New People’s Army. (Photo courtesy of 26IB)
BUTUAN CITY – A ranking leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and five others yielded over the weekend in Agusan del Sur, the military said Monday.
In a statement, the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion (IB) identified the leader of the surrenderers as Badong Gumansel Lipanda, the commanding officer of NPA Platoon Banglas, Sub-Regional Committee 3 (SRC3), North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
Lipanda’s group surrendered to the 26IB on Saturday.
Lipanda and his colleagues' surrender is a big blow to the NPA units operating in Agusan del Sur, the 26IB said.
Lipanda’s group turned in high-powered firearms composed of an M16 rifle, two Garand rifles, one shotgun, two .45-caliber pistols, magazines, and ammunition.
“Fear for their lives, scarcity of food supply, being away from their families and children, and without support from their former mass bases and higher units pushed the group of Lipanda to surrender,” the 26IB said.
Lipanda was quoted as saying that the series of encounters between their group and the 26IB troopers made their lives in the mountains more difficult.
“We no longer have the support of the masses as they no longer trust us. The leaders from our higher organ also abandoned us,” Lipanda said.
Lt. Col. Sandy Majarocon, the 26IB commander, said Lipanda's surrender "indicates the collapse of Platoon Banglas,” adding that other members of the platoon have also surrendered to the government recently.
Majarocon said Platoon Banglas of SRC3, NCMRC is considered a notorious NPA unit operating in the hinterlands of Agusan del Sur, particularly in the towns of San Luis, Esperanza, and Talacogon since 2010.
Lipanda’s group is undergoing medical checkups, assessments, documentation, and counseling at the 26IB headquarters.
The process is among the requirements for their enrollment in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government.
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 was 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)
