CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City (PIA)--The downfall of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army Terrorists (CNTs) nears after a series of surrenders and firefights in the 4th Infantry 'Diamond' Division (4ID) area of responsibility (AOR) continue in favor of the government forces over the week.
During his assumption as 4ID Commander, July 5, MGen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. underscored the call to the remaining communist terrorist group (CTG) members to abandon the armed struggle and return to a peaceful life with their families. He also vowed to give a good fight to those who will advocate violence and continue perpetrating atrocities towards the people.
Since July 19 2021, 14 CTG members voluntarily surrendered to the different units of 4ID bringing with them 11 firearms of different calibers. Said personalities were key NPA leaders and members of the Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC1) and from the dismantled Guerilla Front 4A of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) and Guerilla Front 8 (FGF8) of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Most recent is the successful negotiation made by 58IB troops under Lt Col Ricky Canatoy for the voluntary surrender, July 28, 2021, with seven regular NPAs who also surrendered along with them one M16 Rifle, one AK47, one KG9, and one Homemade Shotgun.
Per their revelations, said CTG members decided to surrender due to hardship, hunger, continued reduction of their ranks and the desire to start their own family which the NPA prohibits. Alias Kimyan/Irish added that the CTG continuously recruit minors and turn them as child warriors with her as living evidence.
Meanwhile, last July 20, 2021, four members of the remnants of GF4A, NCMRC, one SPL (Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad) and one MB (Milisya ng Bayan) voluntarily surrendered to Lt Col Julius Cesar C Paulo, the Commanding Officer of 23rd Infantry Battalion, bringing along five firearms and one hand grenade at Jamboree Site, P-6, Brgy Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
Likewise, a certain Edgar Dagpin y Dobrea alias Adel, vice commander of the dismantled GF8, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) voluntarily abandoned his 21 years of futile struggle last July 19, 2021 bringing 3 AK47 rifles and 11 pieces of magazines. He revealed that the physical exhaustion, weakened party leadership, and dwindling mass bases contributed to his decision to yield to the government and be with his son.
Brawner also disclosed that the troops continuously gained headway against the CTG in the AOR since his assumption as 4ID Commander with a total of 16 encounters resulting in the capture of 7 firearms and killing of 3 CNTs while a total 27 CTG members also surrendered bringing along with them 15 firearms.
He said the number of encounters and the continuous flow of CTG members returning to the folds of the law indicate that the implementation of the campaign to address insurgency is on the right track. The Army, the local government units, the local government agencies and the civilian populace are working together to easily track the terrorist group.
"The CTG is continuously disintegrating. We will relentlessly pursue them until they fully realize that the armed struggle that caused misery to our people is futile. We shall sustain and strengthen our focused military operations while we stay committed and supportive to the Task Force ELCAC implementing peace and development projects. Once again, I urge the remaining CTG members, avail of the E-CLIP now or face the consequences," Brawner said. (4ID/PIA-10)
