IP leader helps 20 NPA supporters to surrender

From the Mindanao Times (Mar 8): IP leader helps 20 NPA supporters to surrender

TWENTY alleged members of the underground mass organization (UGMO) of the New People’s Army surrendered to the 71st Infantry Battalion through the efforts of a Lumad leader in Mawab, Compostela Valley on Wednesday morning.

1Lt. Jhocell Asis, the civil-military operations (CMO) officer of the 71st IB, told TIMES that Datu Madyaw (not his real name), a president of an Lumad organization in Davao Del Norte, accompanied the 20 individuals from Sitio Casilac, Barangay New Cortez, New Corella and Barangay Binancian, Asuncion to the army headquarters.

Asis said the surrenderees belonged to Guerilla Front 33, Southern Mindanao Regional Command led by alias Bobong, Komiteng Taga-Organisa chairman.

“This mass surrender of 20 NPA members is the product of our excellent relationship with IP community in our area of responsibility,” Lt. Col. Esteveyn Ducusin, the commander of 71st IB, said.

“As we recall, we have conducted IP leaders’ meeting last Feb. 9, 2018 to ask the support of our IP leaders as catalysts of peace to help our unit in encouraging more NPAs to surrender,” Ducusin said.

The Lumad leader said that he just want a peaceful community.

“It is this very reason why I convinced my constituents to surrender to the 71st IB,” he said.

“We are not blind to the fact that NPAs are taking us for granted. We IPs are always the target of their infiltration and recruitment,” he added.

In five months going back last year, the 71st IB already facilitated 476 surrenderees and apprehended 15 high-profile personalities. They also recovered three high-powered and 16 low-powered firearms, along with four improvised explosive devices.

http://mindanaotimes.net/ip-leader-helps-20-npa-supporters-to-surrender/