Hunger, abandonment lead 7 Reds to yield in Davao provinces

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 8, 2022): Hunger, abandonment lead 7 Reds to yield in Davao provinces (By Che Palicte)

HUNGRY, ABANDONED. Seven communist New People's Army fighters return to the fold of the law in Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte on April 4 and 5, 2022 after experiencing hunger and abandonment, and pressure from the community. The NPA surrenderers will be enrolled in the government's reintegration program, Army officials said. (Photo courtesy of Kalinaw News)

Hunger, abandonment, and pressure from the community led seven communist New People’s Army (NPA) fighters to surrender on separate occasions in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro.

In an interview Friday, Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) said rebels surrendered in Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte on April 4 and April 5, 2022, respectively.

Tito identified four of the NPA surrenderers only by their known aliases: Jisie, Eljen, Wanwan, and Dencio—all from the NPA's Guerilla Front 2. They surrendered to Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Macagong, Maragusan, Davao de Oro on April 4.

The following day, he said troops from the Army's 60th Infantry Battalion facilitated the surrender of three other NPA members, also known only by their aliases: Bernon, Gorio, and Yanyan.

Tito said the surrenderers brought along with them two M16 rifles, assorted medical paraphernalia, and war matériel when they surrendered in Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte.

“They are currently under the custody of 66IB and 60IB,” Tito said.

Bernon told military officials that they can no longer suffer the hardship, lack of supplies, and support from their mass base.

Bernon added that their surrender became easier through the help of their former comrades, who assured them that the military would take care of all their needs, including legal requirements, and help them connect with their families and loved ones.

“They are currently undergoing custodial debriefing. They are done with their medical check-up, and they are being processed for the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” Tito 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.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1171759