CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – Five New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, including a squad leader, surrendered to the police in Agusan del Sur, Police Regional Office-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Pedro G. Labra II said on Thursday, May 25.
“These five Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members abandoned the armed struggle due to hardships in the mountains, lack of logistical support and loss of mass base in the countryside, prompting them to give up,” Labra said.
Labra said they surrendered from May 15 to 21 to the Agusan del Sur Provincial Intelligence Unit, Carrascal Municipal Police Station, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-13, and Regional Intelligence Unit 13.
“They returned to the government’s fold after series of negotiations involving the police and community,” he said.
Labra said one of the surrenderers was “Randel,” an assistant squad leader under Weakened Guerilla Front 19, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, and a bomb expert.
Randel turned over one caliber .38 revolver, live ammunition, and a blasting cap to the personnel of 1304th Maneuver Company, RMFB-13 on May 21.
“We prepare the necessary assistance for them to avail the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP),” Labra said.
“With the government’s continuous victory, we hope to see an insurgency-free Caraga in the coming years,” Labra added.