12 NPA rebels surrender, turn over firearms in Masbate

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 29, 2022): 12 NPA rebels surrender, turn over firearms in Masbate (By Connie Calipay)

Map of Masbate province (Google image)

A total of 12 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels voluntarily surrendered on Tuesday and were welcomed by police and military authorities in Mandaon town in Masbate province, a police report said.

Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, Police Regional Office-Bicol (PRO-5) regional director, said two of the surrenderers were allegedly NPA commanders operating in Masbate.

"The surrenderers were identified only as alias 'Rembo', a platoon commander of the communist movement Sentro De Grabidad while 10 of his companions were members of the Larangan Central, KP4-Masbate, Bicol Regional Party Committee led by Ka Luding Tolingin alias Ka Dady, and the other surrenderer, alias Ka Victor (is) member of Larangan 1 Guerrilla Front under Eddie Rosero's 'Ka Star' command," Estomo said.

A ceremony to receive the surrenderers was held in Barangay San Juan on Tuesday morning, coinciding with the 53rd founding anniversary of the NPA.

During the event, the former rebels laid down their firearms including an Ingram machine pistol, .38 caliber handguns, 12-gauge shotguns, and several rounds of ammunition, among others.

"The rebel returnees and their firearms were (placed) under the custody of police authorities for proper disposition," the statement added.

Estomo said the latest batch of surrenderers brought to over a hundred the total number of rebels operating in Masbate who have returned to the fold of the law and are currently included in the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

He noted that the voluntary surrender of the rebels was an offshoot of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), which helps those who signify their desire to rejoin mainstream society.

The Bicol police together with the Philippine Army are united in helping resolve the insurgency problem in the region, he added.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1170912