TACLOBAN CITY – Two New People’s Army leaders in Eastern Visayas surrendered to the military this week.

Alias Leo, alias Omer or Lovely, leader of Squad 2, Sub-Regional Guerilla Unit (SRGU), and alias Mael, finance officer of P2, Front Committee 15, both from the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Arctic of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), yielded to the 20th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Las Navas, Northern Samar, on August 17.
On August 16, alias Abner, a member of Batakang Organisasyon sa Partido (BOP) and a resident of Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar, surrendered to the 19th IB in Catubig, Northern Samar.
Lt. Col. Richard Villaflor, commanding officer of the 20th IB, attributed the surrender of the two NPA leaders to the focused military operations of the 20th IB and the local peace engagement operations of the 803rd Infantry Brigade.
Ninety-four NPA rebels in Eastern Visayas were neutralized from July 1, 2022 to August 9, 2024. Sixteen were high-value individuals and 14 were key leaders who surrendered, apprehended, or killed in military operations.
Recovered from them were 148 firearms and 90 anti-personnel mines (APM).
Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, 8th ID commander, said that the NPA in the region is leaderless and powerless.
“They continue to weaken and disintegrate as your Philippine Army persistently pursues them, ensuring that no one is left to bring violence to our communities.”