63 NPA fighters yield in Mimaropa so far this year- police

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 12, 2023): 63 NPA fighters yield in Mimaropa so far this year- police (By AARON RECUENCO)

A total of 63 communist rebels have surrendered in MImaropa region this year, the regional police force disclosed on Thursday, April 13.

Police Brig. Gen. Joel Doria, director of the Police Regional Office 4A, said the latest of those who surrendered was 33-year old “Ka Amor”, a member of the the Sub-Regional Military Area (SRMA) 4D of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC).

He surrendered to the Provincial Intelligence Unit of Oriental Mindoro Police on Tuesday, April 11.

Both the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro are considered as hotbeds of communist insurgency in the past.

The national government has been pushing to end communist insurgency in the country, considered as one of the oldest in the world through the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Following the repeated failure to strike a peace deal over the years, the national government has opted for localized peace talks, which it said, was proven effective.

In Mimaropa which covers the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, Doria said a total of 63 communist rebels already surrendered from Jan. 1 to April 11.

Doria commended the efforts of the PNP and all government agencies concerned in the region and reiterated the significant role of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed-conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in the government’s successful counter-insurgency campaign.

“I commend the efforts of our PNP personnel, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and all concerned government agencies in this success. This is a solid proof that the government’s whole-of-nation approach under the NTF-ELCAC is gaining more momentum in its goal of putting an end to the local communist terrorism in the region,” said Doria.

“Ka Amor” is now under the custody of the PNP for debriefing prior to their possible enrollment in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/12/63-npa-fighters-yield-in-mimaropa-so-far-this-year-police