MACO, Compostela Valley — The Army said Friday it sees the weakening of the strength of the New People’s Army (NPA) after a series of mass surrenders of mass base supporters, particularly in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte provinces.
Col. Erwin Bernard Neri, commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade, said his unit alone already received 39 NPA regulars, 179 Militia ng Bayan, 73 Sangay ng Partido, and 586 mass supporters from Dec. 21 to March 1.
The increase in NPA surrenderers was noted following the oath of allegiance of some 700 surrenderers to the Philippine flag in December last year in a meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
During the same period, some 15 firearms and nine Improvised Explosive Devices were either surrendered or recovered by government forces in the two provinces.
In a press briefing held at the 1001st headquarters in Barangay Mapaang, Maco, ComVal, Neri said that among the surrenderers were 16 personalities holding vital positions in the movement, among them Ka Anthony, the Commanding Officer of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda of Guerilla Front 2; Ka Charry, the Vice-Commanding Officer of Pulang Bagani Company 8; and Ka Dindo, a Political Instructor of Guerilla Front 33.
In an assessment made by 1001st Brigade of the 10th Infantry Division, which has operational jurisdiction over some parts of Davao Norte and some parts of Compostela Valley, the massive influx of surrenderers is the result of Duterte’s visit to Panacan last December 21.
Duterte had a dialogue with the 700 former rebels and offered them government assistance to help them lead a peaceful life.
He also encouraged other rebels who are still active in the movement to surrender.
According to Neri, many of those who surrendered felt the difficulty of continuously running away from the pursuing troops.
In a related development, a Sparrow member of the NPA named alias Jano and a sub-section collector named alias Lenny were also apprehended in Maco while extorting money from residents. Their apprehension came after responding troops received information from the residents of a community in Maco that the two were coercing and forcing them to give money.
Neri expressed his gratitude to the community for providing information leading to their arrest. He also exhorted other community-based groups and individuals to continue supporting the Army to hasten the attainment of lasting and genuine peace in the area.
“This development is an offshoot of the continued support of the community exhibiting their disgust and hatred of the communist terrorist movement,” the commander added.
Neri noted that no one from ComVal and Davao del Norte attended a rally in Davao City for EDSA. This shows that there are no longer NPA mass supporters, he added.
Neri said the military is already gaining ground.
“For now, around 315 is the strength of NPA in my area of responsibility,” he said, adding that the 1001st is still open for those who want to surrender to the government,” he added.
Sr. Supt. Marvin Manuel Pepino, director of the Compostela Valley Police, said, “We are always in support to the internal security operation conducted by the Philippine Army.” (Rhoda Grace Saron/PNA)
