Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela – Six Communist NPA (New People’s Army) terrorist (CNT) members yielded to government troops and surrendered high-powered firearms and war materials in San Mariano, Isabela on June 30.
Alias ‘Onyok,’ 25, team leader of Squad Uno; alias ‘Jun-Jun,’ 30, team leader of Squad Dos; Alias ‘Eugene,’ 55, team leader of Squad Tres; alias ‘Merson,’ 30, supply officer; alias ‘Jeffrey,’ 24, CNT member; and alias ‘Badboy,’ 56, member of Militia ng Bayan, all belonging to the Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley (KR-CV), decided to return to the fold of the law through the combined efforts of the 95th Infantry Battalion (95IB) under the 502nd Infantry Brigade and local Philippine National Police (PNP) units in Barangays Disulap, Balagan, and Zone 1 in San Mariano, Isabela.
According to the surrenderees, the morale of the remaining RSDG members is low after a series of encounters that resulted in the deaths of their leaders, the successive voluntary surrender of their members, the withdrawal of support of their mass bases, and the confiscation of their various war materials.
While sacrificing their lives for nothing in the terrorist organization, they are seeing the positive changes in the lives of their former comrades who earlier surrendered and are now working with the government. These made them believe that they were deceived by the false and empty promises of terrorist CPP-NPA leaders and cadres.
They have also surrendered four high-powered firearms (one M653 Rifle Elisco, one M14 rifle, and two M16 rifles), one low-powered firearm (.38 caliber revolver), 12 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), five magazines for M14, 100 pieces of 7.62 ammunition, and one bandolier that were issued and entrusted to them by the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Maj. Gen. Laurence Mina, commander of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division, lauded 95IB and 502nd Infantry Brigade Startroopers for their sustained effort to free Isabela from insurgency.
He also thanked the surrenderees for making the right decision to give up armed struggle and embrace the opportunity to live a peaceful and meaningful life with their loved ones.
“I commend the Liberator and Salaknib Startroopers for their effort [that led to] the surrender of six RSDG members with firearms and war materials. This will undeniably affect further the deteriorating capability of RSDG as revealed by the surrenderees. We will not stop until we achieve the genuine peace and prosperity that we all deserve,” he said. (PA) – jlo
