IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon (PIA)--Top New People's Army (NPA) commander Chrislyn Mission Balamad, alias June, Ising, Ka-Nur, and Al, operating in Western Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao, recently surrendered to the Army's 8th Infantry Battalion of the 403rd Infantry Brigade.
Balamad, 30, operated with the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) as the Secretary of Sub-Regional Committee-V (SRC-5).
She revealed she was an active League of Filipino Students member at Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Marawi City at 18. She was about to graduate when the terrorist group recruited her, spending nearly 12 years with the rebel movement.
The surrendering rebel leader disclosed that the morale of the party committee and operational command had significantly deteriorated due to the mass surrenders within their ranks due to the implementation of the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Balamad admitted that the relentless Focused Military Operations disrupted their activities, eventually destroying her unit and forcing her to give up to government forces.
She further conveyed her aspiration to complete her bachelor's degree, pursue a Juris Doctor, and dream of becoming a lawyer soon.
Her surrender also enabled her party husband, Ryan Sagubay Daluniag, known by aliases Kiram, Meka, Gom, Adong, Wewe, and Tuyang, to give up.
Daluniag acted as commanding officer of the Sub-Regional Operations Command and 1st Deputy Secretary of SRC-5.
He surrendered on October 8, 2023, to the 5th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, following negotiations led by the 8th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.
Brigadier General Michele B. Anayron Jr., the 403rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the ranks within the CTGs are rapidly falling as surrenderees continue to flood not only to the 403rd Brigade but to almost all the Philippine Army units across the country.
"This is the outcome of our whole-of-nation approach to combat insurgency and terrorism. This responsibility is not solely ours; it extends to every Filipino. Let us maintain our unity as the CTG is nearing its end," Anayron said. (CMO, 8IB/403Bde/4ID, PA/PIA 10-Bukidnon)
