LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and 17 of their supporters have surrendered to police authorities in Mountain Province, police reported on Friday.
Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, director of Police Regional Office Cordillera, said Rogelio Balanon del Rosario, also known as “Ka Eric”, 41, squad leader; and Benny Lumidap Tuginay or “Ka Manny”, 26, both of Gonzaga, Cagayan – along with 17 CPP-NPA Militia ng Bayan supporters – yielded to authorities in Poblacion, Paracelis, Mountain Province at about 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Carranza said del Rosario and Tuginay belong to the Frank Guerilla Unit based and operating in Gonzaga, Cagayan and nearby regions.
The two CPP/NPA members turned over several firearms and ammunition, among them a Carbine rifle with no serial number; two magazines for Carbine rifle; 10 pieces of ammunition for Carbine; one M16 rifle with a defaced serial number; one short metal magazine for M16; and five ammunition for M16.
The items are now with the Paracelis Municipal Police for proper disposition.
Carranza said the surrender was made possible through the initiative and persistence of personnel from the municipal police, the Alpha Company of the 54th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and Franklin W. Tallawec, a leader of the Cordillera Bodong Association. (PNA)
