DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Sept. 21 (PIA) -- Three ranking leaders of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and 13 others yielded on Sept. 20 in Guihulngan City, the military said.

In a statement, the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion identified the leaders of the surrenderers as 'Ka Jimbo,' commanding officer of Sentro de Grabidad Platoon, and a political instructor and medical officer who are members of the Central Negros 1, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (KR-NCBS) under Leonardo Panaligan Command of the New People's Army (LPC-NPA).

Brigidaire Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, led the ceremonial declaration held at Brgy. Poblacion in Guihulngan City. 

The activity was highlighted with the turn over of the 16 newly surrendered personalities and nine former rebels who surrendered on March 29, 2022 to Lt. Col. William Pesase Jr, commanding officer of 62IB to the Guihulngan City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (GCTF-ELCAC).

Guihulngan Mayor Filomeno Reyes, chair of CTF-ELCAC, led the oath of “Panumpa sa Kalinong” with the returnees’ withdrawal and denouncement of support to the CPP-NPA-NDF.

An offering prayer and candle lighting for the victims of NPA atrocities and human rights victims were also officiated by Pastor Mary Hope Biasca, 62IB spiritual adviser, and a symbolic burning of the CPP-NPA by the rebel returnees.

The activity culminated with the dispersal of 25 heads of goat and 25 sacks of fertilizers which were provided by GCTF-ELCAC through the City Agriculture Office.

The CDRRMO also offered 25 boxes of hygiene kits and assorted ready-to-wear clothes from city officials and volunteer organizations in Guihulngan City.

“Tiredness, fear, and hunger are the most difficult things we have experienced in the mountains and the reasons of our surrender and the loneliness we felt for our family that we have long time abandoned due to the false promises of the NPA (Kakapoy, kahadlok ug kagutom ini ang pinaka-mabudlay namon nga naagian sa kabukiran ug rason sa amoang pagsurrender ug idugang pa ang kamingaw sa amon nga pamilya nga dugay kaayo namon napabay-an tungod sa maling mga pangako ng NPA),” said 'Ka Jimbo,' commanding officer, SDG Platoon, CN1, KR-NCBS.

The mass surrender is the result of 62IB and Philippine National Police's focused military operations, intensified information operations, and local peace engagement that pressured the leadership and members of these former rebels pushing them to voluntarily surrender, said 1Lt. Roselyn Balean, civil military operations officer of 62nd IB.

Balean said the active implementation of the programs of GCTF-ELCAC has encouraged other members of the NPA to return to the folds of the law. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from 62ndIB, PA)