10 NPA rebels surrender, yield firearms in central Negros

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 26, 2022): 10 NPA rebels surrender, yield firearms in central Negros (By Nanette Guadalquiver)

SURRENDER. Some of the 10 Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebels in central Negros who surrendered to the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police last week. On Monday (Dec. 26, 2022), the 62nd Infantry Battalion turned them over to the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict of Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental during a ceremony that coincided with the CPP's 54th founding anniversary. (Photo courtesy of 62nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army)

BACOLOD CITY – Ten Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebels have surrendered and yielded firearms to the military and police in central Negros Island from Dec. 20 to 22, a report from the Philippine Army's 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) said.

Capt. Dorcesimo Cuyag Jr., civil-military operations officer of the 62IB based in Isabela town, Negros Occidental province, said the 10 rebels were turned over to the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) of Guihulngan City during a ceremony Monday.

The CPP is commemorating its 54th founding anniversary today, Dec. 26.

"The timing is a blow to the CPP. They have no reason to celebrate because their people have already surrendered. It is us who should celebrate this victory," Cuyag told the Philippine News Agency.

He said the rebels, who are all members of the Central Negros Front 1, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor, decided to leave the armed struggle after realizing the CPP-NPA's pointless ideology, and experiencing so much exhaustion and hunger while trying to evade pursuing government troops.

Among those who surrendered were father and son Crasiolo "Claire" Landisa, 53, and Redgen "Anghel" Landisa, 22, who were the first to yield on Dec. 20.

The elder Landisa spent 38 years in the armed revolution as he joined the NPA in 1984, Cuyag said.

They brought with them an M16 A1 rifle, a Colt M203 .40mm grenade launcher, and a .45-caliber pistol.

On Dec. 21, Boging "Jona" Cantila, 52, who was with the NPA for 13 years, and her son Joel "Prince" Sta. Ana, 23, turned themselves in along with their four comrades, Crisel "Tadlong" Fat, 39; Jerome "Bradely" Bitongga, 36; Ricky "Bugtong" Saraguelles, 32; and Rodney "Gary" Pasatiempo, 25.

Siblings Jercel "Be-an" Gonzaga, 27, and Ronel "Robert" Gonzaga, 33, also surrendered with a Magnum .357 revolver and a .45-caliber pistol on Dec. 22.

Cuyag said they have long wanted to surrender, but were hesitant because of rumors that soldiers would harm them once they do so.

"Recently, they were able to listen to our radio program and learned that the government is willing to help them. They approached the 62IB and we asked the assistance of the Philippine National Police. At first, there were only two of them, and when the six others knew that they have been treated well, they followed suit. Then the next day, two more surrendered," he added.

Cuyag said the 10 were able to celebrate Christmas for the first time in years while they stayed at the camp of 62IB.

"They were so happy to gather together on Dec. 24. We prepared food for them. They ate and sang together. This was something they did not experience when they were away from their families and they were just hungry and weary during Christmas," he said.

In a statement, Guihulngan City Mayor Filomeno Reyes, chair of the local TF-ELCAC, said the surrenderers have finally realized that they were deceived into joining the CPP-NPA after being promised a better life through armed revolution.

"This false propaganda has been proliferated far too long. Let us all wake up from this deception. Come back to the fold of the law and work with the government for an authentic better life for all," he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191482