SURRENDER. Two communist New People’s Army combatants that included a 15-year-old fighter (left), yield to the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Makilala, North Cotabato on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2020). Patrolling government troopers also stumbled on a rebel ammunition cache at the border of Makilala town and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on the same day. (Photo courtesy of 39IB)
MAKILALA, North Cotabato – Two communist guerillas, including a minor, yielded to the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) here on Tuesday.
1Lt. Walter Jhun Orille, the Army’s 39IB civil-military operations officer, said that "Ka Gaspar", 51, and a 15-year-old male fighter were forced to surrender due to intense military operations along the border of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur.
Orille said the two were under the NPA's Guerilla Front 51 and brought with them two M16 rifles when they surrendered.
“We are still conducting military patrols in areas where they frequent to stop NPA extortion activities in the communities,” Orille said.
While on patrol, he said government troops also stumbled upon an ammunition cache of the NPAs in one of the communities that included 2,583 bullet rounds for an M16 rifle; 125 rounds for an AK-47 rifle, and three improvised bombs.
Orille was unable to identify the village where the NPA ammunition cache was discovered pending follow-up operations.
Ka Gaspar was quoted by the 39IB as saying: “We are exhausted by the military’s pursuit operations forcing us to always be on the run amid hunger and fear of encountering government forces.”
Lt. Colonel Geoffrey Carandang, 39IB commander, said the surrender of a child warrior clearly showed the NPA’s violation of RA 11188 or “An Act Providing for the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict” that prohibits the recruitment of children into armed groups.
The two surrenderers currently remain under the custody of the 39IB, with the minor scheduled for a meeting with personnel of the municipal social welfare office for the necessary intervention.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1115623
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