CPP-NPA leaders yield in Isabela

From the Manila Times (Apr 6, 2021): CPP-NPA leaders yield in Isabela (By Leander C. Domingo)

GAMU, Isabela: Leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in this province have voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 86th and 95th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the 5th Infantry Division (5th ID) over the weekend.

Major Jekyll Julian Dulawan, 5th ID public affairs officer, said Alias Popoy of NPA’s Squad Uno, Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG), Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley (KR-CV) was the first one to surrender to the 86th IB in Sitio Jet in Barangay San Guillermo in Isabela province.

Dulawan said Alias Popoy was recruited to the CPP-NPA in October 2020 by a certain Alias Andong.

Intelligence records show that Alias Popoy was among the CPP-NPA members and whose group had an encounter with the 86th IB in San Guillermo town in Isabela on March 15 where a certain Alias Yuni, a high ranking CPP-NPA official in Cagayan Valley, was killed.

Alias Popoy said he was able to sneak out, leaving his former comrades who threatened him if he left their organization.

“I am too tired having to hide from government authorities, experiencing starvation, moving from one place to another for food and shelter,” he said.

Alias Popoy said that while he felt bad fighting government troops, he was pressured and intimidated by his CPP-NPA cadres.

“With these, I decided to leave the terrorist movement and I was grateful that I was accepted by the government despite my affiliation with the terrorist group,” he said.

In San Mariano town, Isabela, Alias Kalahati/Rocket/Rudy also surrendered to authorities.

Alias Rudy, a leader of the Squad Dos of RSDG, KR-CV, was recruited in 2017 by a certain Alias Bang and Alias Kevin/Ron-Ron/Benjamin, a supply officer of Squad Tres of RSDG, KR-CV and who were recruited by Aliases Mandy, Rona, Zaldy and Lopez in 2016.

These NPA surrenderers said they have suffered enough since they joined the CPP-NPA movement which did not do them good and as promised by their recruiters.

Dulawan said the surrenderers are now under the custody of the authorities for their security while they are processing the benefits from the government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/06/news/regions/cpp-npa-leaders-yield-in-isabela/860426/