Ka Oris’ death prompts 8 NPA militias to yield in Agusan Norte

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 4, 2021): Ka Oris’ death prompts 8 NPA militias to yield in Agusan Norte (By Alexander Lopez)

DEBRIEFING. Eight Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Carmen, Agusan del Norte undergo a debriefing at the local police station after their surrender on Wednesday (Nov. 3, 2021). The Police Regional Office 13 said the eight MBs heeded the call of the government to surrender following the recent death of top NPA-Mindanao leader Jorge Madlos alias “Ka Oris” in an encounter with soldiers in Bukidnon. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13)

A total of eight supporters of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) serving as Milisya ng Bayan (MB) in their locality surrendered to the police in the town of Carmen, Agusan del Norte on Nov. 3.

In a statement on Thursday, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., director of the Police Regional Office – Caraga (PRO-13), said the recent death of NPA leader Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris, was among the factors that forced the eight MBs to yield to authorities.

“They told us during the custodial debriefing that they chose to withdraw their support to the communist movement and surrender after hearing on the death of Ka Oris,” Caramat said of the MB batch who surrendered on Wednesday.

He added that the eight MBs also heeded the call of the government to surrender to save themselves from the fate that befell Madlos.

Madlos, 74, a top NPA leader in Mindanao, was killed in an encounter with the military in Impasugong, Bukidnon last October 30.

Caramat identified the eight surrenderers through their aliases as Erwin, Marie, Jokoy, Mirang, Ruby, Emma, Mark, and Franco.

The eight, as local militias, provided support to the remaining insurgents of Guerrilla Front 4A (GF-4A) that operate in the towns of Las Nieves, Buenavista, Nasipit, and Carmen in Agusan del Norte.

The GF-4A is considered dismantled after the death of its leaders and members in a series of encounters in 2020.

The surrender of the mass supporters of the front in the different towns in Agusan del Norte was also prompted by the recent encounters in the area.

The surrender of the eight MBs was made possible through the help of Carmen town officials.

“The Philippine National Police in Caraga welcomes them as they have freed themselves from the bonds of deceit, abuses, and exploitation. We want our brothers who are still in the armed struggle to know that a peaceful life awaits them should they choose to lay down their arms and surrender,” Caramat said.

He added that the eight will be provided with assistance and benefits by the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front, meanwhile, has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1158778