An alleged New People's Army (NPA) commander surrendered to authorities in Mt. Province due to the "relentless" military operations against communist groups there, a ranking official of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) bared Sunday, Nov. 20.
Arnold Baquiran alias "Cobra," 42, of Sitio Pagga, Brgy. Bantay, Paracelis, Mountain Province, yielded to personnel of the 69th Infantry Battalion under the Joint Task Force Kaugnay and local police.
He also turned over to the authorities a Springfield caliber 30 Garand rifle with five rounds of 30 caliber ammunition and nine rounds 40 mm. ammunition for M203 grenade launcher.
Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., commander of NOLCOM, said Baquiran was the commanding officer of the "NPA in the Barrio, Milisyang Bayan (MB)" based in San Mariano, Isabela.
Torres attributed Baquiran's surrender to the "relentless community support programs of the troops in the area" and his "genuine intent for peace and reformation."
He also reiterated his call to the remnants of the NPA and their supporters in the province to "heed the call for peace and development of the government and come back to the folds of the law and contribute as productive citizens of our country."
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier expressed intent to end the threat of communist insurgency under the new administration as AFP chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro revealed there were only 24 remaining guerilla fronts (GFs) nationwide from a high of 89 GFs before.
Of the remaining GFs, 19 were already considered "weakened" and are up for dismantling soon. The NPA strength was also reduced to 2,112 members and 1,800 firearms.