NPAs in Alabel, Sarangani on the verge of extinction - Baladad

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 2): NPAs in Alabel, Sarangani on the verge of extinction - Baladad

Due to focused military and development efforts, the New People's Army (NPA) forces in Alabel town in Sarangani province is now on the brink of extinction.

This was disclosed by Eastern Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad Monday.

He made this statement after another NPA fighter, identified as Juvani Angos alias "Juvan," a member of Guerilla Front 75, voluntarily surrendered to the 73rd Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Felix Ronnie B. Babac last Feb. 26 in Barangay Datu Danwata, Malita, Davao Occidental.

This was followed by the recovery of an M-16 automatic rifle in a nearby Barangay Manuel Peralta on the same date.

Baladad said the 18-year-old Juvani is the 11th surrenderee after 73rd Infantry Battalion troopers routed the NPAs during an encounter last Feb. 16 in Sitio Tugal, Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel town.

This resulted in the death of seven rebels and the capture of nine high powered firearms.

"The group suffered an even greater setback because five of the seven who were killed are NPA leaders. Moreover, according to reports from civilians in the area, the actual numbers of killed NPAs have reached 13, following the subsequent encounters that occurred during the pursuit operations," Baladad stressed.

"If we add this 13 who were killed to the 11 who surrendered, that's already 24, which is the big reduction in the number of NPA bandits from GF 75. We are also expecting more surrenderees after receiving several surrender feelers,” Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

He added that the surrenderees are now being processed for their eventual enrolment in the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of Sarangani Province. Moreover, other surrenderees from Davao del Sur will also avail of the same program by the CLIP of Province of Davao Del Sur.

Earlier, in the afternoon of Feb. 25, two NPA members from Jose Abad Santos, Davao Del Sur and identified as Fernan Gapa Miguel alias "Diego" and Jimbert Gapa Miguel alias "Jeter" surrendered to the 73rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Carahayan.

The surrender was made possible through the intervention of barangay and local officials and government troops.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=740326