Two lady NPA rebels yield to army troopers in DavOr; skirmish reported in ComVal

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 11): Two lady NPA rebels yield to army troopers in DavOr; skirmish reported in ComVal

The Philippine Army on Saturday reported the surrender of two New People’s Army (NPA) amazons in Compostela Province.

This happened after elements 67th Infantry Battalion concluded a dialogue with displaced families in the town of Caraga, Davao Oriental.

Captain Rhyan Batchar, chief information officer of 10th Infantry (Agila) Division identified the two amazons as Joy, 20 and Rose, 17.“Their names are being held as of press time for security reasons,” Batchar said.

The two belonged to Guerilla Front 15 of the NPAs operating in Davao region, he added.

“The 67th IB soldiers just concluded their talks with the 150 displaced families who are temporarily housed at the Caraga Municipal Gymnasium when the two NPA amazons voluntarily submitted themselves,” Batchar said.

Batchar added that earlier, six NPA members also returned to the folds of the law in Davao Oriental through the 67th IB while two others submitted to the 73rd IB in Davao Occidental.

“These latest surrenders brought the total of ten NPA members who decided to go back to their normal lives due to the relentless combat operations being conducted by the army since the lifting of the ceasefire by the government,” Batchar said.

Major General Rafael C. Valencia, commander of 10th ID, lauded the two amazons for deciding to return to the folds of the law.

"The NPA members are encouraged to leave their group before the full brunt of military capabilities will catch up with them,” Valencia said, adding that NPA members were just victims of manipulations of their leaders.

Meanwhile, Batchar reported of a clash between government troopers and NPA rebels that took place Friday, in the town of Laak, Compostela Valley.

Soldiers belonging to 60th IB engaged in a half an hour gun battle with an undetermined number of NPAs belonging to Guerilla Front 34 and Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) 4.

Batchar said no soldier was hurt while the NPA was believed to have suffered casualties in the incident.

Pursuit operations are still on going in the area, he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=963177