BY CRIS DIAZ
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Eleven alleged members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered bringing along their firearms in a military camp in Bukidnon, the military said Sunday.
The army’s 4ID Division on Public Affairs Office (DPAO) in Camp Evangelista here identified the surrenderers as
Edwin Datu Bonye, 40, Arnel Galon Borja, 42, Daniel Sagnalan Pinadanag, 27, Jamell Pauran Aningga, 24, Melchor Inahan Colawing, 23, Rolando Lan-awan, 20, James Nico Gen Ortiz Barquio, 22, David Pindunay Ortiz, 52, Alex Lagat Bacus, 61, Armando Ortillano Bacus, 32,i and Jessel Goaynon Cahanggan, 24.
Maj. Franciso P. Garello, Jr. DPAO head, said that the surrenderers turned over one low-powered firearm and six high-powered firearms to the 1st Special Forces Battalion of the army’s 403rd. Infantry Brigade in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon on Friday.
According to Garello, the surrenderers were remnants of
the splinter group of the sub-regional committee-5 (SRC-5) under the CTG’s North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
In a statement, 4ID Commander Maj. Gen. Wilbur C Mamawag, said that the recent developments of surrenders and the continuous rejection of the civilian populace signaled the eventual collapse of the communist NCMRC In Northern Mindanao.
Mamawag also hailed the 403rd Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Ferdinand T. Barandon for the tireless and concerted effort in securing the communities from the threat and intimidation of the communist rebels in their area of responsibility.
Barandon said that the losses that the NPAs suffer during encounters and the military’s relentless peace and development efforts in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur were primary factors that motivated the communist rebels to surrender. -0-
