NPA team leader yields in South Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 8, 2023): NPA team leader yields in South Cotabato (By Edwin Fernandez)

SURRENDER. The M16 rifle and .38-caliber handgun surrendered by a communist New People’s Army team leader in South Cotabato in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato on Thursday (Sept. 7, 2023). The surrenderer, identified only as “Mateo” (inset), said he abandoned his group for fighting a lost cause. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao Norte – A team leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) operating in South Cotabato province has decided to abandon the rebel movement and surrender to the military Thursday.

Lt. Col. Carlyleo Nagac, the Army’s 5th Special Forces Battalion commander, identified the surrenderer only as “Mateo,” 35, who turned over a .38-caliber revolver and an M16 rifle when he showed up at a military detachment in Barangay Lamlahak, Lake Sebu town.

“Mateo is a squad leader of the NPA operational command, Far South Mindanao Region movement,” Nagac said in his report to this camp, the headquarters of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID).

Mateo told military authorities that he decided to come down after being with the movement for seven years, and reunite with his family after realizing his group’s armed struggle was going nowhere.

Nagac presented Mateo to Brig. Gen. Andre Santos, the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade commander, who said the rebel leader’s surrender was an indication of a weakening communist movement.

Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, 6ID commander, lauded Mateo for choosing the path to peace.

“The government opens its door to all communist rebels who wish to be reintegrated into the mainstream and live a normal life,” said Rillera, also commander of Joint Task Force Central.

Since January, about 50 NPA rebels have been “neutralized” within the 6ID area of operation.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209479