CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – Four (4) extremely hungry and exhausted CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) surrendered to the troops of the 75th Infantry Battalion and 36th Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division in Surigao del Sur on May 6-7, 2023.
A certain John Paul Loyola, 23 years old, the team leader of Team Baking, Squad 2 of the SRSDG Southland under the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and Ruel Tawede alias Rocco, 47 years old, the commanding officer of Militiang Bayan/Hikling, Lumpong 5 surrendered to the 75th Infantry Battalion under the leadership of Lt. Col. Jan B. Molero in Brgy. Magroyong, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on May 6 and brought along with them two (2) high-powered rifles composed of one (1) M14 Rifle and one (1) M1 carbine Rifle.
Meanwhile, a CNT couple identified as Jonas Angeles alias Remboy, Angel, 28 years old and his live-in partner Inday Sampaga alias Ilen, both members of the weakened Guerilla Front 16 under the NEMRC voluntarily surrendered to the 36th Infantry Battalion under the leadership of Lt. Col. Michael Rey Reuyan at Purok 4, Brgy, Pantukan, Carascal, Surigao del Sur on May 7, 2023. According to alias Remboy, he was exploited for nine (9) months and decided to leave due to disillusionment when he was left to take care of himself from a gunshot wound that he sustained during an encounter at Mapula, Brgy. Esperanza, Carmen, Surigao del Sur on April 15, 2023. They also surrendered one (1) M16 Rifle.
Said series of surrenders are addition to the accomplishments of the 4ID in the past months. It can be recalled that on April 24, 10 members of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) led by Lino Atipan Namatidong aka Commander Dahon, CO of Headquarters Force NEO, also surrendered to the troops of the 23rd Infantry Battalion in Butuan City.
Since January 2023, there are already 67 CTG members who surrendered to 4ID in the hopes of returning back to their normal lives, and be reunited with their families.
In a statement, 4ID Commander Maj. Gen. Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II stated that said CNTs have returned to the folds of the law due mainly to discouragement and after series of neutralization, voluntary surrender, apprehension and death of their leaders from successful military operations. “The continuous exhaustion due to our relentless focused military operations and the unfulfilled promises of the communist terrorist group (CTG) led them to abandon the organization,” he said.
He added that 4ID in partnership with different agencies under TF-ELCAC remains committed to its persistent call for peace and in accepting CTG members who desire to return to mainstream society and avail the better opportunities under the government’s enhance comprehensive local integration program or E-CLIP.
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