Three NPA leaders in CAraga region, two followers surrender in Agusan del Norte

From the Manila Bulletin (Jul 4, 2023): Three NPA leaders in CAraga region, two followers surrender in Agusan del Norte (By MIKE CRISMUNDO)

CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – Three Communist New People’s Army (NPA) leaders in Caraga region, along with their two regular fighters, abandoned their armed struggle and voluntarily surrendered to government forces in Agusan del Norte.

A sketchy report reaching the regional command and action center of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) based here identified the three NPA leaders as a certain ‘Ka Luis/Lance/Bestre/Macar,’ 46, executive committee (Execom) member and finance officer of the Sub-Regional Committee 5 (SRC5) of the CPP-NPA North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee; ‘Ka Admin/Nesan/Arro,’ vice-commanding officer and Platoon leader of Huawei-SRC-5; and ‘Ka Mikay/Lyka,’ 20, medical officer of Platoon Huawei, SRC-5, NCMRC.

The three rebels came out of their hiding place and voluntarily submitted themselves before the officers of the Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO) and the Philippine Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (23rd IB) on Sunday, July 2.

Thorough negotiations conducted by field units and the full support of barangay officials and community leaders also helped the three NPA leaders and their two followers decide to abandon the struggle.

The surrenderees, along with village officials, were officially presented to Agusan del Norte PPO and 23rd IB officials on Monday.

The former rebels are now under the custody of 23rd IB for further custodial debriefing and processing for “E-CLIP” Enrollment, said Assistant chief of the PRO 13-Regional Public Information Office Police Lt. Ryan Comajeg Cagula.

The command group of PRO 13 is hoping that the surrender of these former NPAs will bring positive attention to the remaining blinded members of the doomed NPA in some areas in the region.

“Our government is willing to welcome those remaining rebels who are still hiding so they could avail the government’s peace and development program,” said PRO 13 Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Pablo G. Labra ll.

The rebel returnees are set to be enrolled in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or ECLIP.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/4/three-npa-leaders-in-c-araga-region-two-followers-surrender-in-agusan-del-norte