NPA political officer, member yield to Army in Agusan Norte

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 15, 2023): NPA political officer, member yield to Army in Agusan Norte (By Alexander Lopez)

TIRED REBELS. Jaime Manpinsahan Manseliohan (left), a communist New People’s Army (NPA) political officer, and his comrade, Jolano Baja Ramos, yield to the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion on Monday (Aug. 14, 2023) in Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte province. The Army’s 4th Infantry Division also reported the recovery of six high-powered firearms on the same day in an operation conducted in Pangantucan town, Bukidnon province. (Photo courtesy of 4ID)

BUTUAN CITY – A political officer and a member of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) have voluntarily surrendered to military authorities in Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte province on Monday.

In a statement Tuesday, the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division identified the surrenderers as Jaime Manpinsahan Manseliohan, a political officer under the rebels' North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC), and Jolano Baja Ramos, a platoon member of SRSDG-Sagay.

The insurgents surrendered two M16 rifles and an AK-47 to the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion headquarters in Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista.

Meanwhile, the 4ID said that another guerrilla, identified as Jalyn Mantensahan Capitan, a medic, also surrendered to the 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB) on Monday in its headquarters in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.

“The rebels are now experiencing organizational collapse and leadership crisis after the death of Dionesio "Muling" Micabalo, the regional secretary of the NCMRC,” said Brig. Adonis Ariel Orio, the 402nd Infantry Brigade commander, in the same statement.

Micabalo was killed in an encounter with 58IB troops on July 26 this year in Barangay Libertad, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.

“With the death of Micabalo, immense demoralization now grips within the ranks of the remaining NPA in Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental, coupled with fatigue and hardships due to relentless combat operation of the government troops,” he said.

Cache of NPA firearms

Moreover, the 4ID also reported the recovery of a cache of firearms concealed by the NPA guerrillas in the hinterlands of Barangay New Eden in Pangantucan town, Bukidnon province on Monday.

Troops from the 23IB and the 1st Special Forces Battalion recovered high-powered firearms which include four M16 rifles, an M653 rifle, a grenade launcher, and an anti-personnel mine.

“The recovery of the firearms was made possible through the information provided by Marjone M. Abion, the former team leader of Platoon Huawei under the SRC 5 of NCMRC who surrendered to the government last July 1,” the 4ID said.

Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the 4ID commander, lauded the former rebel for the information given that led to the recovery of the NPA firearms.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207811