CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – After a series of heavy defeats in the past weeks due to the no-let-up military operations, the top communist terrorist group (CTG) leader and seven (7) members voluntarily surrendered to the government troops in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte.
The NPA’s top leader, identified as Grecy Yparraguirre alais Raquel, the Secretary of Guerilla Front 30 (GF30), North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) with her husband, Ramil Salazar Queda alias Ben, and nephew, Robert Arreza Yparraguirre alias Mark, the Vice Commanding Officer and member of Platoon 1, GF30, NEMRC, respectively, and Bakekor Lauro Masiga alias Pidok, member of Sentro de Grabidad 16 (SDG16) have surrendered to the troops of 36th Infantry ”Valor” Battalion under Lt. Col. Vincent M Viray, on June 22, 2023, at its Headquarters, Barangay Puyat, Carmen, Surigao del Sur.
Said surrenderers revealed that they abandoned their group due to exhaustion after sustained military operations. They also surrendered four high-powered firearms composed of one (1) Norinco AK 47, one (1) M14 Riffle, and one (1) AR18 Rifle with attached one (1) 40mm M203 Grenade Launcher.
On the other hand, joint Army-PNP operations resulted in the surrender of four CPP- NPA terrorists (CNTs) belonging to the Sub Regional Committee Westland (SRC Westland) and Guerilla Front 16 (GF16), both under NEMRC. Alias Juday from Platoon Apitong of SRSDG Westland and alias Gabriel and Bords of SYP 21C, GF21 members, together with alias Steve, the Vice Squad Leader of SDG16, GF16 surrendered to the 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion under Lt. Col. Cresencio C Gargar in coordination with Butuan City Police Station 4 and Cabadbaran City Police Station at 29IB Headquarters, Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on June 21, 2023.
Meanwhile, in Bukidnon, four CNTs identified as Jeffrey Pauran Bacus, Nomer Bonye Donque, Jelly Sinadaya Peliton, and Eljohn Paul Layahon Pina, all belonging to the Sub-Regional Command 5 (SRC-5) of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMC), surrendered to the 1st Special Forces Battalion under Lt. Col. Roger Anthony E Nuylan Jr. at Barangay Mampayag, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon on June 18, 2023. They also surrender one (1) M16 Rifle and various war materiel.
In a statement, 4ID Commander Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II said that the successive surrenders were a direct result of the continuous focus military operations of 4ID troops to finally put an end to the atrocities of CTG in the region. This a clear manifestation that the CTG is completely in the state of confusion and lack direction due to a vacuum of leadership. The relentless pursuit of 4ID’s troops, along with the unwavering support of the populace, has effectively weakened communist terrorism, leading to CTG’s imminent end in the region.
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