NPA surrenderers bare location of dead comrade in Bukidnon

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 17, 2022): NPA surrenderers bare location of dead comrade in Bukidnon (By Nef Luczon)

Google map of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province.

The Army's 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) confirmed Thursday the retrieval of a decaying corpse of a New People’s Army (NPA) fighter in the hinterlands of Sitio Kilap-agan, Barangay Can-ayan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

In a statement, Maj. Lemuel Bacarro, 8IB acting civil-military operations officer, said the body was identified on March 15 as that of alias "Prodo," after two of his comrades pointed to its location following their surrender.

"As revealed by the former rebels, Prodo was hit on his lower abdomen during an encounter on March 3, 2022. The cadaver was eventually left behind in the area while the NPAs were on the run for withdrawal," the statement said.

Meanwhile, a total of six NPA rebels in Malaybalay City surrendered following the March 3 encounter, the 8IB said.

The surrenderers claimed they experienced hardships and hunger, prompting them to yield for another chance to live a normal and peaceful life.

Three of the surrenderers were team leaders, two were medics, and one squad leader who all formerly operated in the 8IB’s area of responsibility.

Lt. Col. Anthony A Bacus welcomed the six former rebels and assured them to receive appropriate benefits that are due to them under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

"It is sad to note that the NPA left their dead comrade. However, our government jointly provided decent services towards his final destination," he said.

Brig. Gen. Ferdinand T. Barandon, commander of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, said the decision of the six rebels to surrender was in response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for the rebels to return to mainstream society.

“We expect that more NPA leaders and members will heed the call of the President to return to the folds of the government,” Barandon said.

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

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1170041