CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Despite the strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), 10 New People’s Army (NPA) fighters surrendered to the field units of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade during the observance of the Holy Week in Caraga region, Maj. Francisco P. Garello, Jr., Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the 402nd Brigade, said.
The surrenderees belong to the CPP-NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
Their identities were withheld for their security.
He said the NPA fighters surrendered to the elements of the 23rd Infantry Battalion (23rd IB) under Lt. Col. Francisco Molina in Agusan del Norte and 36th Infantry Battalion (36th IB) under the command of Lt. Col. Jeezrel Diagmel in Surigao del Sur.
The rebels yielded one M16 Armalite rifle, one M1 Carbine rifle, one M653 rifle attached with M203 grenade launcher, three .45-caliber pistols, three .38-caliber pistols, one anti-personnel mine (APM), and other assorted live ammunition.
The surrenderees revealed that as they approached the communities for food, they took the opportunity to desert and decided to return to the folds of law because they no longer see any reason to continue fighting as corruption and abuse became rampant in their organization, Maj. Garello said.
“Their surrender was also facilitated by their comrades-in-arms who recently surrendered to the field units of the 402nd Brigade, the CMO officer said.
“They disclosed that their stay in the organization became more miserable when the COVID-19 struck the province since their supporters were quarantined,” he said. (Mike Crismundo)
