TACLOBAN CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel surrendered to the military in Barangay Domrog, General MacArthur, Eastern Samar on Saturday, July 27, following the death of their squad leader in an encounter on Thursday, July 25.

YAPE (78th IB FB)
Lando Yape, alias Rose, a member of the recently dismantled Apoy Platoon, yielded to the 78th Infantry Battalion (IB) following the killing of their leader Joel Gaurino, alias Duran.
Yape turned over two M16 rifles, 10 magazines, and 284 bullets.
Lt. Col. Joseph Bugaoan, commander of the 78th IB, said that Yape belonged to the group of Gaurino but he was able to escape the firefight in the hinterlands of General MacArthur. Yape contacted with his family which arranged his surrender.
Yape claimed that remaining in the NPA proved to be futile when his leader was killed because their group had no more direction.
“The pressure of the government operations and the depressive conditions inside the movement after the recent encounter last Thursday was too much to bear,” Yabe said.
Bugauan attributed his surrender to the relentless follow-on and pursuit operations coupled with the peace and development activities of the Army.
He added that it was also made possible by the E-FReE Families or the Enhanced Friend Rescued Engagement through their Families program of the brigade which enabled the family of Yape to seek their help.
The program was launched last year to counteract the hate spread by NPA propagandists and address the danger and anxiety faced by the families of NPA members.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade (IBde), expects that more NPA members will soon give up.
“They have been demoralized after the successive encounter and death of their leaders and members. We won’t stop until it is done,” Vestuir said.