CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – One hundred seventy-four members of New People’s Army (NPA) have yielded to the government troops in two separate mass surrender activities in the Caraga region held at the headquarters of 26th Infantry Battalion (26th IB) in Barangay Zamora, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur and at the field unit of the 23rd Infantry Battalion (23rd IB) Sitio Macopa, Barangay Poblacion, Carmen, Agusan del Norte on Thursday, military reported Saturday.
In significant activities in just one day, two mass surrender activities were conducted as a result of the efforts and interventions of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the 402nd Infantry Brigade in partnership with the PNP’s Community Action Team (ComACT), 402nd Brigade Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer Maj. Francisco P. Garello, Jr. told The Manila Bulletin on Saturday.
Attended by Talacogon Mayor Pauline Marie R. Masendo and 402nd Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Maurito L. Licudine, 26th IB Commander Lt. Col. Reynald Romel Goce, welcomed the surrender of 24 rebels composed of seven regular NPAs and 17 Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members, bringing along with them 23 assorted firearms in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.
On the other hand, a total of 150 Communist insurgents surrendered on the same day to the 23rd IB under the command of Lt. Col. Julius Cesar Paulo during the ceremonial mass surrender at Sitio Macopa, Barangay Poblacion, Agusan del Norte with Carmen town Mayor Jovitte C. Calo, as guest of honor and speaker during the surrender rites.
The surrenderers were composed of 24 MB members, and 126 mass supporters who brought along with them two caliber-.45 pistols, three caliber-.38 pistols, a caliber-.22 rifle, nine shotguns, several explosive materials and live ammunitions.
Licudine lauded the remarkable accomplishment of the 23rd IB and 26th IB which he said was very timely in view of the intensified campaign against the Communist insurgent group that is continuously weakening and losing support from the communities.
“We are indeed pleased and optimistic on the turnout of surrenderers orchestrated by our battalions through our CSP,” he said.