28 NPA leaders surrendered since January 2018: military

From the Mindanao Times (Mar 27): 28 NPA leaders surrendered since January 2018: military

THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has recorded a total of 28 CPP-NPA leaders who surrendered to security forces since the start of the year.

Lt. Col. Emmanuel Garcia, the AFP spokesperson, said The most number of surrender came from the Eastern Mindanao Command, which reported 17 ranking NPAs in 2018. The most recent of the surrender was Edwin Coquilla alias “Jemar.”

Garcia said he is a former squad leader of a platoon of the NPA’s North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

He yielded to troops of the Philippine Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion and brought along nine improvised explosive devices at Headquarters 36IB, in Tago, Surigao del Sur on March 11.

Three high-ranking leaders of an NPA Guerilla Front also surrendered including a former vice commander of GF27 Geraldo Baro alias Arnold who yielded to the 71st Infantry Battalion in Mawab, Compostela Valley on Feb. 7; and Alvie Marie Cominador alias Ara, secretary of GF51 and Shane Rosete Cacdac alias Neo, staff officer of a sub-regional committee who both yielded to the 73rd Infantry Battalion in Davao Del Sur on Feb. 1.

In January, five leaders voluntarily surrendered to troops. Highest-ranking among them were deputy secretary of the FSMR, Noel Legazpi alias Efren, and his wife, Jeanalyn Bendalian alias Wendy, who is the former medical officer of FSMR. They both surrendered to members of the 27th Infantry Battalion in South Cotabato on Jan. 15.

Notable also was a certain alias Simon a former vice team leader of GF71, Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) who surrendered on Jan. 23 to the 73rd IB in Sarangani Province.

Randy Atong and Renie Atenza, finance officer and a team leader of GF51, respectively, yielded to troops in Davao Del Sur on Jan. 10.

Beong “Ka Tukay” Dalumatan, formerly a sub-commander of Guerilla Front (GF) 72 based in Sultan Kudarat, turned himself in to Columbio Municipal Police Office on March 3.

Meanwhile, 10 other NPA leaders, who requested not to be named, surrendered in Albay on Jan. 19. They are composed of political guides, squad leaders, and medics.

The spike in the number of NPA leaders who surrendered is attributed to the government’s sincere efforts in helping former rebels reintegrate to their communities and families, particularly through the efforts of the local government units, the AFP, and the PNP.

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