From the Manila Times (Oct 18, 2021): NPA fall seen in Davao, Cotabato
A senior military official said over the weekend the whole-of-nation (WoN) approach to resolve issues and address concerns of communities was rendering the communist New People's Army (NPA) ineffective in the boundaries of Davao and Cotabato, causing the rebels' mass base there to face imminent collapse.Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, the commander of the 39th Infantry Battalion, based in Davao del Sur, cited the robust and proactive program implementation of different agencies under the Task Force Ending Local Armed Conflict or ELAC of various municipalities employing the WoN.
This approach to the more than 50-year communist insurgency in the country was implemented nationwide under Executive Order 70.
It was credited by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the recent surrender of nine NPA members, operating at the boundaries of the two provinces.
The WoN addresses the root causes of the communist rebellion, the internal disturbances and the tensions and other armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social-development packages by the government, facilitating societal inclusivity and ensuring the active participation of all sectors of society in pursuit of the country's peace agenda.
On October 6, a rebel couple — Paypay and his wife, who was eight-months pregnant —surrendered to government troops in Makilala town in North Cotabato.
On October 14, an NPA cadre that also surrendered was identified by Balagtey as Gawits, 49 years old and a resident of Sitio Bulwan, Barangay San Melilla, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.
The AFP official said Gawits was the former vice commander and demolition expert of the NPA Guerrilla Front ALIP, Far South Mindanao Region.
READ: NPA rebel killed in Davao del Norte clash
On October 16, six members of this guerrilla front also surrendered and were identified as Bongcayaw, Boyet, Sonnyboy, Kadz, Sa and Maica.
According to Balagtey, all the surrenderers left the NPA because of the loss of the mass base of the communist group in the Davao-Cotabao areas.
On October 14, an NPA cadre that also surrendered was identified by Balagtey as Gawits, 49 years old and a resident of Sitio Bulwan, Barangay San Melilla, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.
The AFP official said Gawits was the former vice commander and demolition expert of the NPA Guerrilla Front ALIP, Far South Mindanao Region.
READ: NPA rebel killed in Davao del Norte clash
On October 16, six members of this guerrilla front also surrendered and were identified as Bongcayaw, Boyet, Sonnyboy, Kadz, Sa and Maica.
According to Balagtey, all the surrenderers left the NPA because of the loss of the mass base of the communist group in the Davao-Cotabao areas.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/10/18/news/regions/npa-fall-seen-in-davao-cotabato/1818742
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