NASIPIT, Agusan del Norte – The number of New People’s Army (NPA) members, who have surrendered, has continued to rise as another 25 more rebels yielded to the Army in Agusan del Norte. 

NPA members and mass supporters, together with members of their allied organization, voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (23^rd IB) and pledged loyalty to the government during surrender rites held at Barangay Aclan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte on Sunday (Aug. 23).

Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of 23^rd IB 1^st Lt. Roel T. Maglalang told The Manila Bulletin late Monday afternoon that the 25 NPAs who surrendered consisted of 15 members of the Militia ng Bayan (MB), 10 mass supporters and three members of the Unyon ng Mag-uuma sa Agusan  (UMA). 

“As they withdrew their support to the Communist movement, the rebel returnees also vowed to support the different peace and development initiatives of the government that will be implemented in their communities,” the 23^rd IB CMO officer said. 

The surrender of the former rebels (FRs) was the result of the efforts of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the 23rd IB and the Community Action (ComAct) Team of the Philippine National Police (PNP) with the support of the local government unit (LGU) of Nasipit and the local officials of Barangay Aclan, he said. 

The CSP and ComAct teams are continuously working to clear and dismantle the remaining members of the Guerrilla Front 4-A (GF 4-A) and destroy the Sentro de Grabidad (SDG) CAOCAO and Sub-Regional Sentro de Gabidad (SRSDG) SAGAY of the CPP-NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC), 1^st Lt. Maglalang said. 

During the surrender rites on Sunday, the FRs and allied organization members burned the flag of the CPP-NPA as they formally cut their ties to the terrorist organization. 

They also condemned the continuing terroristic activities of the communist terrorists in communities and swore they would provide the military with information as a support to the over-all efforts to end the local communist armed conflict through the implementation of the Executive Order No. 70 of President Duterte.

Local officials in Nasipit and Aclan expressed gratitude to the 23^rd IB and the PNP for the sacrifices they had made in convincing the former rebels to go back to their families and communities. 

They also recognized the courage of the former rebels especially on their decision of abandoning the communist movement and pledged their loyalty to the government.

“All of them (FRs) regretted joining the Godless NPAs where they failed to give them the promises they made, but instead suffering to their families,” the 23^rd IB CMO officer added, after their initial talked to the surrenderees.