By Sarwell Meniano | Philippine News Agency
TACLOBAN CITY – A bomb maker of the New People’s Army (NPA) has surrendered to authorities in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Tuesday (Nov. 23).
Police identified the NPA rebel as Alfredo Baluyot, 55, a farmer from Gen. MacArthur town in Eastern Samar.
He showed up at the headquarters of 2nd Eastern Samar Police Mobile Force Company in Buenavista village in Quinapondan town around 2:00 p.m. on Monday (Nov. 22).
“The police and the military with the help of an advocacy support group were able to locate and convince another regular member of the communist terrorist group through intelligence and information operation,” the PNP regional office here said in its report sent to journalists.
The surrenderer turned over a .38-caliber revolver with five live ammunition, two anti-personnel mines, 16 caliber 5.56 live ammunition, and a cassette tape.
Baluyot is a bomb maker of Squad 1 Apoy Platoon NPA front committee operating in the area of Lawaan to Borongan City in Eastern Samar.
The communist group has been manufacturing the banned anti-personnel mines to launch treacherous attacks against government forces.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA) – bny
