IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon (PIA)—New People’s Army (NPA) squad leader Hodi Singayan Almahan alias Talumbaboy surrendered on January 23 at the 8th Infantry “Dependable” Battalion (8IB) headquarters in Impasugong, Bukidnon.
LtCol Anthony Bacus, 8IB commander, said Almahan, 35, is a squad leader of the NPA’s Platoon Copper operating under Headquarters Force Neo, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) and a resident of Binicalan, San Luis, Agusan del Sur.
LTC Bacus disclosed that in an initial custodial debriefing, Almahan confessed he decided to yield after losing his wife Hailyn alias Enzie, and nephew alias Ayon in an encounter with government troops at Sitio Tamyang, Binicalan, San Luis, Agusan del Sur on May 8 last year.
Almahan said that his wife ‘Enzie’ served as the medic and supply officer of their unit.
“Grabe akong kasubo ug kahi-ubos sa mga NPA kay human namatay akong asawa ug pag-umangkon, ila kong gibyaan taliwala sa kasakit. Dako akong pagmahay nga nahimo kong NPA. (The NPAs deeply humiliated me because after my wife and nephew died, they abandoned me in the midst of my grief. I completely regret becoming an NPA),” he narrated.
Almahan surrendered along with seven CPP-NPA supporters known as ‘Milisya ng Bayan (MB)’ namely Noli Almahan Guilosan alias Tats, 32, MB commander, HQF Neo-NCMRC; Jerry Fabiana Saplidan alias Kalunsasawi, 20; Benedy Odinlay Flores alias Kayumang, 27; Wilson Fabiana Saplidan alias Patiyukan, 18; Manlistahan Buscada Saplidan alias Kaduyan-duyan, 75; alias Sarah, 17; and Jemalyn Saplidan Almahan alias Ana, 27.
He also handed over an M16 rifle, four short magazines, and six live ammunition as he vowed to live peacefully and help the government’s peace and development efforts.
Meanwhile, the army’s 8IB commander cited the group’s resolve to surrender.
“Among gikalipay ang pagbalik nilang Almahan ug iyang kabanay sa sabakan sa gobyerno. Duna na pud kitay nasalbar nga pamilya. Ato silang tabangan nga makadawat sa hinabang gikan sa gobyerno pinaagi sa Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program kon E-CLIP alang sa ilang maayong kaugmaon. (We appreciate Almahan and his relatives’ decision to surrender. We have saved another family. We will assist them in getting government assistance through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP for their brighter future,” Bacus said. (8IB, 4ID, 403Bde, 4ID PA/PIA-10/Bukidnon)
