THE military reported that a top official of the New People’s Army was captured in Davao Oriental, while two others surrendered in Agusan del Sur on May 12.
Captured in Brgy. Simulao, Boston, Davao Oriental was Cayetano Santos Jr., squad leader under Regional Operations Command and Regional Headquarters of the NPA, while those who gave up were Jessica Q Agustin, a medical staff of the Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad Southland (SRSDG-SL) of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, and Romel O. Damarillos, a member of the Squad 2 of the same group.
Based on the report, members of the 10th Infantry Division and the local police collared Santos along with an anti-personnel mine. He also yielded a Carbine rifle, a Garand rifle, a shotgun, a grenade launcher, a sub-machine gun and another rifle.
Based on the report, Santos decided to lie low because he could hardly walk after leaving his group in Brgy. Badiangon, Arakan, North Cotabato in 2018.
A composite team among members of the military units and local police forces under the supervision of the 701st Infantry Brigade launched an operation against him that resulted in his arrest.
Major Gen. Nolasco Mempin, 10th Infantry Division commander, commended the team for the success of the operation.
Rebels who have yet to surrender, Mempin said,” cannot forever stay in your hideout.”
“Surrender now while you still have a chance, don’t wait for the government forces to catch you,” he said.
In the case of Agustin and Damarillos, they decided to surrender to the Third Special Forces Battalion following a series of encounters in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
First Lieutenant Kirk Lee Amigos, Civil-Military Operation officer of the battalion, said the two also brought with them a rifle and a handgun.
Amigos said the two were part of the group that clashed with soldiers in Surigao Del Sur.
