LEGAZPI CITY – Eight members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA), including a leader, surrendered to authorities in Milagros town in Masbate on Sunday.
Lt. Col. Orlando Ramos Jr., 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) commander, confirmed that one of the surrenderers was a commanding officer of the Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) from Larangan 2, Komiteng Probinsya 4 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee (L2, KP4, BRPC) who surrendered with one Carbine rifle, a media release from the 9th Infantry Division on Monday said.
"The other seven members brought with them several firearms including another carbine rifle, three .38 caliber revolvers, one .357 caliber pistol, one .45 caliber pistol, one homemade shotgun, and one KG45 sub-machine gun," said Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson.
Belleza said the successful operation was because of the continuous call of the government for rebels to return to the fold of the law, coupled with the Army's relentless conduct of combat and security operations.
For his part, Brig. Gen. Aldwine Almase, 903rd Infantry Brigade commander, attributed the influx of surrenderers also to the cooperation of the community.
"Ang 903rd Brigade po ay natutuwa at nagpapasalamat sa mga tao na patuloy na sumusuporta laban sa kampanya natin sa insurhensiya, lalo na sa mga kapamilya at mga kaibigan ng mga nagbalik loob sapagkat malaking tulong po kayo sa kanilang pagbabagong buhay (The 903rd Brigade is happy and grateful to the people who continue to support our campaign against the insurgency, especially to the family members and friends of those who returned to the fold because you are a great help as they lead new lives)," Almase said.
Maj. Gen. Alex Luna, 9ID and Joint Task Force Bicolandia commander, meanwhile congratulated the eight surrenderers even as he urged the remaining NPA members to follow suit and return to living peaceful lives with their families.
"Ako po ay labis na nagagalak sa patuloy na paglobo ng bilang ng mga sumusukong miyembro ng CTG. Binabati ko po ang walong nagbalik loob ngayong araw, hindi kayo nagkamali ng desisyon. Naway magsilbi ulit itong halimbawa sa mga natitira pang armado na naghihirap sa kabundukan (I am very happy with the continuous increase in the number of surrendering CTG members. I congratulate the eight who surrendered today, you did not make a wrong decision. May this serve as an example to the remaining armed men who are suffering in the mountains)," Luna said.
"Sa mga Bicolano ang JTF Bicolandia po ay patuloy na nagpapasalamat sa walang sawang pag suporta at pagtulong ninyo upang matuldukan ang insurhensiya sa Bicol. Sa mga natitira pang armado na nagtitiis ng gutom sa kabundukan at malayo sa kanilang mga pamilya, hindi pa huli ang lahat (To all Bicolanos, JTF Bicolandia continues to thank you for your tireless support and help to end the insurgency in Bicol. For those who are still armed and are enduring hunger in the mountains and far from their families, it is not too late)," he added. (PNA)
