MANILA – A total of 207 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) have surrendered to the Mimaropa Region police from January to Nov. 7.
Mimaropa is comprised of the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Police Regional Office (PRO) - 4B chief Brig. Gen. Joel Doria said the latest surrenderees, “Ka Buyaw/Boyet,” 27; “Ka Boyka,” 19; and “Ka Nop”, 35, all under Platoon AQUE, SRMA-4D, voluntarily surrendered with one serviceable .30 caliber M1 Garand rifle with defaced serial number and 15 ammunition to the 403rd Battalion Maneuver Company Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Barangay Morente, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro on Nov. 7.
Meanwhile, “Ka Mark/Abet,” 52, turned himself in to the Occidental Mindoro Provincial Intelligence Unit with assistance from military and police units in Barangay Rumbang, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, also on Nov. 7.
“This is a product of our commitment to securing our region against the threat of communist terrorism under NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) with the active support of local government units and other government agencies," Doria said.
The surrenderers are now under police custody for debriefing and assistance prior to enrollment to the Enhanced Comprehensive and Local Integration Program.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday announced it had neutralized 143 members of the NPA and other local terrorist groups all over the country in October, bringing the total to 1,200 this year.
"Firearms and mines were also recovered, and lairs were discovered during the said period with a total of 1,526 captured firearms, 389 anti-personnel mines, and 280 discovered hideouts," the AFP said in a statement. (With a report from Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)
