TIRED REBELS. Six members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Platoon Banglas, Sub-Regional Committee 3, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee operating in Agusan del Sur surrender to the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion on Sept. 25, 2002. The Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region also reported the surrender of four members of dismantled NPA Guerrilla Front 4A to police units on Sept. 26, 2022. (Photo courtesy of 26IB)
BUTUAN CITY – Ten communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to the Army and police in the Caraga Region over the past three days, authorities said Wednesday.
The Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion (IB), said six remaining members of Platoon Banglas, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) 3, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the NPA operating in Agusan del Sur surrendered to its unit on Sept. 25.
“The surrender came after the commanding officer of Platoon Banglas, identified as Badong Lipanda, yielded ahead to this unit on Sept. 17,” the 26IB said in a statement.
The surrenderers also handed over three AK-47 rifles, two M16 rifles, a Garand rifle, magazines, and ammunition.
Among the six who surrendered was Mama Inolato, who said he could no longer stand the exhaustion caused by pursuing 26IB troopers in the mountains.
“I am thankful to the 26IB for welcoming us back to the fold of the law. We are asking for forgiveness from the government for what we have done before,” Inolato was quoted as saying.
Lt. Col. Sandy Majarocon, the 26IB chief, lauded the decision of the remaining members of Platoon Banglas to surrender.
“This is a big opportunity for you to live peacefully with your families in the communities where you came from,” Majarocon said.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) said four NPA members also surrendered to police units on Sept. 26.
Two of those who surrendered were the remaining members of the dismantled Guerrilla Front (GF) 4A of the NCMRC, who yielded in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
Another surrenderer, the PRO-13 said, was a mass supporter of GF Huawei, SRC 1 of NCMRC who yielded in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
The PRO-13 added that a former Milisya ng Bayan member under the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Kingdon of GF4A surrendered to the Agusan del Norte First Provincial Mobile Force Company. (PNA)
