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2 Reds surrender, yield firearms in Oriental Mindoro

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

September 28, 2022, 7:30 am

MANILA – Two communist rebels in the province of Oriental Mindoro have voluntarily surrendered to authorities, according to Police Regional Office in Mimaropa (PRO 4B) chief Brig. Gen. Sidney Sultan Hernia on Wednesday.

In a statement, Hernia said “Ka Jemar”, 54, a platoon leader of the New People's Army's (NPA) Armed Propaganda Unit, and “Ka Maylene”, 46, a former activist and NPA medical officer, voluntarily surrendered on Monday to Lt. John Herman Briones Lat, officer-in-charge of the 404th B Maneuver Company under the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB 4B) located in Barangay Poblacion in the town of Puerto Galera.

The two likewise turned over one .38-caliber revolver, one .22-caliber pistol, nine bullets, a hand grenade, one rifle grenade, detonating cord, time fuse, and ammonium nitrate fuel oil.

Hernia said the surrender of these rebels was made possible through intelligence support and assistance from the elements of the 4th Platoon, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Provincial Intelligence Unit under the Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Unit.

“This direct outcome of the PNP’s relentless counter-insurgency campaign in active partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, local government units, and other government agencies through the NTF ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict)," Hernia said.

The former rebels are currently undergoing custodial debriefing at RMFB prior to enrollment in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) in order to receive livelihood assistance and incentives for their surrendered firearms.

Records show that PRO 4B had already facilitated the surrender of 121 communist rebels since January of this year.

“This is a product of our commitment to securing our region against the threat of communist terrorism under NTF ELCAC with the active support of local government units and other government agencies. May the continuing success of this campaign finally convince the remaining CTG members to finally surrender and return to the folds of the law and become productive citizens of the country,” said Hernia. (PNA)

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