2 NPA fighters surrender in Zamboanga Norte

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 20, 2023): 2 NPA fighters surrender in Zamboanga Norte (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. Two members of the New People's Army (in green and blue shirts) take an oath of allegiance before Mayor Alberto Bongcawel of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte, following their surrender Thursday (Jan. 19, 2023). The two are now under the custody of the police’s 901st Mobile Company - Regional Mobile Force Battalion-9 before their reintegration into mainstream society. (Photo courtesy of APC-WM)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to authorities in Zamboanga del Norte province, a top police official said Friday.

Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao (APC-WM), said the two NPA rebels yielded around 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the town hall of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte.

They were identified as Johnny Angas, 27, and Alma Anyag, 42, both of Barangay Guibo, Siayan, and members of the Hingpit na Organisadong Masa (HOM) under the main regional guerrilla group of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.

Verceles said the duo surrendered following negotiations initiated by police intelligence operatives of the 901st Mobile Company - Regional Mobile Force Battalion-9 while conducting internal security operations in Barangay Guibo, Siayan.

The two decided to surrender due to "hardships" they experienced evading operating forces in the area, he said.

Upon their surrender, Angas and Anyag took an oath of allegiance administered by Siayan Mayor Alberto Bongcawel and witnessed by police and military officials.

The surrenderers were then placed under the custody of the 901st MC for custodial debriefing and reintegration into mainstream society.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193198