Fourteen communist-New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists and two Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members voluntarily surrendered to the 71st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion 71st IB) late Tuesday afternoon, said 1st Lt. Jhocell D. Asis, Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer of the Army’s 71st IB, on Thursday.
In a phone interview with The Manila Bulletin, the 71st IB CMO officer said the unarmed surrenderees were all members of Section Committee 27 (SECOM 27), Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC 2) of the CPP-NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC) from Barangay (village) New Barili, the barangay in the highest peak of Maco town, Compostela Valley (ComVal) province.
Guerrillas from the New People’s Army in formation during the 49th anniversary of the communist rebel group in Sierra Madre mountains. (Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Through the intervention of the barangay chairman and with the help of the local government unit of Maco, the mass surrender was made successful,” 1st Lt. Asis added.
The surrenderees personally yielded themselves to the command group of the 71st IB led by its battalion commander Lt. Col. Esteveyn E. Ducusin.
“We are very thankful for the continuous support of the local officials who served as intermediary between us and NPA members and supporters,” the 71st IB commander said, in a statement.
“The flock of surrenderees will continue as our battalion, 71st IB, continues in building good image through different community services and outreach programs that gain trust and confidence of the people,” he said.
He added that they will never stop to suppress CNTs in their Area of Responsibility (AOR) until the populace will leave peacefully away from fear and coercion made by the remaining communist-NPA terrorists.
There are a total of 518 NPA members who already voluntarily surrendered to 71st IB from September of last year upTuesday (March 20), 1st Lt. Asis said.
The 71st IB remains steadfast in performing its mandate to serve and protect the people in the Area of Operation, the 71st CMO officer added.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/22/14-npa-terrorists-from-compostela-valley-surrender-to-pa-battalion/
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