NINE MEMBERS of the communist terrorist group surrendered to the 4th Infantry Division, under the operational control of the 403rd Infantry Brigade (403Bde), in Bukidnon province on Friday, May 3.
The nine rebels surrendered to the troops of the 88th Infantry Battalion, 26th Infantry Battalion, and 1st Special Forces Battalion. They brought along with them six high-powered firearms and one pistol.
The 88th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Eric G. Dema-ala facilitated the surrender of five CTG members identified as squad leader Narnito Dum-ogan and medic Beije Padejo of Squad 1, HQ Loader of Sub-Regioanl Committee 2 (SRC2), and team leader Alex Maggatawan, medic Alecia Maggatawan, and supply officer Ata Manggatawan of Squad 2, Sub-Regional Sentro De Gravidad (SRSDG) Peddler of SRC2, NCRMC.
They also surrendered three Carbine Cal. 30 Rifles, an M16 Rifle, and an M14 Rifle.
Likewise, vice commanding officer Verwell Sulina Cawasan and finance officer Jessa Mae Banawan Visto of HQs Loader of SRC2, NCMRC, surrendered to the 26th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Noel C. Calimquim and the 4th Civil Military Operation under Lt. Col. Jenny A. De Mesa.
They also revealed a hidden arms cache in the mountainous area of Barangay Caburacanan, Malaybalay City on May 4, 2024. The information led to the discovery of one M653 rifle and a caliber .45 pistol.
On the other hand, Tony LIndaan Taquin and Rian Pid-ak Pedyaan, members of Squad 1 and Squad 2, respectively, surrendered to the 1st Special Forces Battalion under Lt. Col. Roger Anthony E. Nuylan Jr at the boundary of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur.
They brought along with them an M16 rifle and an M203 grenade launcher.
In a statement, 4ID commander Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II said the recent surrenders only indicated the state of disintegration of the CTG in terms of manpower and influence not only in Bukidnon but also in Caraga Region.
“After the influx of CTG surrenderers in Caraga particularly notorious leaders, these recent series of surrender manifest the realization of the low-ranking members of their group’s eventual collapse as they are crumbling and in total disarray,” Cuerpo said.
He said the only option available for the remaining NPA members would be to surrender.
” It is high time to abandon the fighting, start embracing the fact that we can only achieve genuine peace and effect change in an environment of peace,” he added.
