2 NPA combatants, 2 supporters surrender in Zambo Sibugay

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 15, 2023): 2 NPA combatants, 2 supporters surrender in Zambo Sibugay (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two New People’s Army (NPA) combatants and two supporters have separately surrendered to authorities in Zamboanga Sibugay province, a top police official said Thursday.

Col. Eduard Mallo, provincial police director, identified the two NPA combatants as Edwin Loma alias "Ka Ondo," and Emelio Acope alias "Ka Boy."

Mallo said Loma, of the NPA’s Guerrilla Yunit Pangkumbatan, surrendered around 1:40 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Guinoman, Diplahan town, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Loma's surrender was the result of community engagement in relation to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict initiated by the Diplahan police office and the police’s 1st Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Mobile Force Company, Mallo said.

On the other hand, Acope surrendered around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Lacnapan, Kabasalan town, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Acope was the former secretary of NPA’s youth sector based in Barangay Upper Nilo in Tigbao town, Zamboanga del Sur province, and a member of the dismantled Guerrilla Front Kara.

Meanwhile, the two NPA supporters who surrendered were identified as Martino Osing and Felex Gemarino, both supply couriers of the rebels in the province.

Mallo said Osing surrendered around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay Peñaranda, Kabasalan.

Some two hours later, Gemarino also surrendered to authorities in Barangay Tilubog, Naga town, also in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Mallo encouraged the remaining NPA rebels in the province to yield and avail of the government programs intended for former rebels.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203611