Kalinaw News: NPA downfall nears as series of surrenders, firefights favor Government Forces

Posted to the Kalinaw News Website (Jul 29, 2021): NPA downfall nears as series of surrenders, firefights favor Government Forces



CAMP EVANGELISTA, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City – The downfall of the CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) nears after a series of surrenders and firefights in the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4ID) AOR continue in favor of the government forces over the week.

During his assumption as 4ID Commander last July 5, 2021, Major General Romeo S Brawner Jr underscored the call to the remaining CTG members to abandon the armed struggle and return to a peaceful life with their families. He also vowed to give a good fight to those who will advocate violence and continue perpetrating atrocities towards the people.

Since July 19, 2021, fourteen (14) NPA members voluntarily surrendered to the different units of 4ID bringing with them eleven (11) firearms of different calibers. Said personalities were key NPA leaders and members of the Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC1) and from the dismantled Guerilla Front 4A of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) and Guerilla Front 8 (FGF8) of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

Most recent is the successful negotiation made by 58IB troops under Lt Col Ricky Canatoy for the voluntary surrender this morning, July 28, 2021, with seven (7) regular NPAs who also surrendered along with them one (1) M16 Rifle, one (1) AK47, one (1) KG9, and one (1) Homemade Shotgun. The following are the NPA rebels personalities who surrendered to 58IB:

Alias ABA/G.Y Squad Leader, Squad 1, Platoon RYAN, of Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC1), NCMRC, 23 years old.
Alias DOUGLAS/MAXX, Political Guide, Squad 2, SR SDG EAGLES, SRC1, NCMRC, 24 years old.
Alias KIMYAN/IRISH, Member, Squad 3, SR SDG EAGLES (MTJ), SRC 1, NCMRC, 17 years old.
Alias ANGIE, Squad Medic, Squad 1, Platoon RYAN, SRC1, NCMRC, 23 years old.
Alias MAMAN/DANIEL, Squad Leader, Squad 2, Platoon RYAN, SRC1, NCMRC, 27 years old.
Alias MARGA/LENYEL (PSRL), Squad Medic, Sqd 2, Platoon RYAN, SRC1, NCMRC, 24 years old, resident of Brgy Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur.
Alias KERWIN/UNDER, Vice Commanding Officer 1 (VCO1), Platoon MADAR, HQF NEO, NCMRC, 24 years old.

Per their revelations, said rebels members decided to surrender due to hardship, hunger, continued reduction of their ranks and the desire to start their own family which the NPA prohibits. Alias Kimyan/Irish added that the NPA rebels continuously recruit minors and turn them as child warriors with her as a living evidence.

Meanwhile, last July 20, 2021, four (4) members of the remnants of GF4A, NCMRC, one (1) SPL (Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad) and one (1) MB (Milisya ng Bayan) voluntarily surrendered to Lt Col Julius Cesar C Paulo, the Commanding Officer of 23rd Infantry Battalion, bringing along five (5) firearms and one (1) hand grenade at Jamboree Site, P-6, Brgy Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.

Likewise, a certain Edgar Dagpin y Dobrea alias Adel, Vice Commander of the dismantled GF8, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) voluntarily abandoned his 21 years of futile struggle last July 19, 2021 bringing three (3) AK47 rifles and 11 pieces of magazines. He revealed that the physical exhaustion, weakened party leadership, and dwindling mass bases contributed to his decision to yield to the government and be with his son.

MGen Brawner Jr also disclosed that the troops continuously gained headway against the NPA in the AOR since his assumption as 4ID Commander with a total of sixteen (16) encounters resulting in the capture of seven (7) firearms and killing of three (3) CNTs while a total of twenty-seven (27) NPA members also surrendered bringing along with them fifteen (15) firearms.

He said that the number of encounters and the continuous flow of CTG members returning to the folds of the law indicate that the implementation of the campaign to address insurgency is on the right track. The Army, the LGUs, the LGAs and the civilian populace are working together to easily track the terrorist group.

“The NPA rebels is continuously disintegrating. We will relentlessly pursue them until they fully realize that the armed struggle that caused misery to our people is futile. We shall sustain and strengthen our focused military operations while we stay committed and supportive to the Task Force ELCAC implementing peace and development projects. Once again, I urge the remaining NPA members, avail of the E-CLIP now or face the consequences”, Major General Brawner Jr added.

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https://www.kalinawnews.com/downfall-of-the-npa-rebels-nears-after-a-series-of-surrenders-and-firefights-in-the-4th-infantry-diamond-division/