Bayan Muna coordinator surrenders to military

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 29, 2021): Bayan Muna coordinator surrenders to military (By Che Palicte)

SURRENDER. Marvin Magrano, former Bayan Muna Sarangani coordinator and New People’s Army member, surrenders to the military on June 26, 2021. Among the weapons he gave up are anti-personnel mines and a rifle. (Photo courtesy of 10ID)

A former Bayan Muna official and member of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the Philippine Army in Sarangani Province, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Marvin Magrano, alias Loloy, Bayan Muna coordinator in the province, gave up to the 73rd Infantry Battalion (73IB) of the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) on June 26.

Magrano, also a part of the education/propaganda staff of the NPA’s Guerilla Front Tala, turned over war materiel.

Maj. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., 10ID commander, said they hope more members of communist terrorist groups (CTG) will emulate Magrano and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Southern Mindanao Regional Committee national treasurer Pedro Arnado who, surrendered in North Cotabato on June 22.

The 53-year-old Arnado said physical exhaustion, weakened party leadership, and weakening of mass bases made him return to the government fold.

Torres said the anti-personnel mines that Magrano turned in were intended for villages in Alabel, Sarangani that will conduct community support programs.

“We are witnessing an influx of surrendering leaders of CTG front organizations to the government which proves their realization of the futility of the communist terrorist movement. We see this development as an opportunity to further unmask and establish the connection between the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its legal fronts which include several party-list groups in Congress,” Torres said.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1145319