Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: EASTMINCOM: 3 NPA Members Surrenders to 65IB

Friday, June 3, 2022

EASTMINCOM: 3 NPA Members Surrenders to 65IB

Posted to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jun 1, 2022): 3 NPA Members Surrenders to 65IB

5th Civil Relations Group

3 NPA Members Surrenders to 65IB

Three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) voluntarily yielded to the troops of 65th Infantry (Stalwart) Battalion through its continuous focused and intensified military and intelligence operations in the month of May 2022.

The surrenderers were identified as alias “Tax” and “Toten/Rey”, squad members and “Jamil”, squad leader of NPA’s Guerilla Front (GF) 21, Southern Regional Committee (SRC) Westland of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC). Along with their surrender, a Cal. 38 revolver and Carbine Rifle were turned in. Alias “Jamil” also led the troops on the location of various supplies and IEDs of the CNTs.

Accordingly, they decided to leave the armed group because of their resentment against them in their false promises that only led to their hardships. The exhaustion and hunger they experienced is contrary to the bright future that were assured to them.

The continuous death of their members in different encounters and the recent voluntary surrender of their four other comrades further persuaded their decision to do the same and return to the fold of the government through 65IB.

In his statement, alias “Toten” said “Pagkadungog nako sa balita sa unsay kahimtang sa mga kauban namo nga nag surrender, didto napamatuoran nga dili tinood ang gipangstorya sa grupo nga angay kahadlokan ug dili katoohan ang mga sundalo. Akong na amgo nga walay padulngan ang akong dugay na nga pagtago ug paglaban sa atong gobyerno.”

Lieutenant Colonel Emerson P. De Vera, commanding officer of 65IB states that the unit is now facilitating their enrollment to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) to start anew and lead their way to get back to their family and community.

This successive numbers of members who are now renouncing and turning their back against the movement greatly reflects the effectiveness of the government’s campaign to loosen the efforts of the enemies and eventually achieve sustainable peace and development.

Thus, 65IB is once again calling the remaining members to cooperate, peacefully surrender, and lay down their firearms. Various programs and benefits will be provided for them to gain back their normal lives and eventually unite with their families.