SIX FORMER members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) have laid down their arms, a testament to the ongoing peace efforts and the visible transformation of Mount Anahawon in Valencia City, which recently opened as a tourist destination.
The surrender took place on the afternoon of May 30, 2025, at Mount Anahawon, Sitio Sumpong, Barangay Banlag, Valencia City, facilitated by the 89th Infantry (Makatao) Battalion.
Alias Nokins, Bads, Liza, Bow, Jaguar, and Burgos were all previously inactive members of the dismantled Guerrilla Front 6. They turned over a cache of firearms, including one carbine rifle, two caliber .45 pistols, two caliber .38 revolvers, and one caliber .357 revolver.
Authorities also recovered a gallon of 5.56mm ammunition based on information provided by the surrenderers.
Lieutenant Colonel Antonio G. Bulao I, commander of the 89th Infantry Battalion, and Honorable Renato A. Boe, Jr., Barangay Captain of Banlag, formally received the former combatants and their weapons.
Demonstrating immediate support for their reintegration, Valencia City Mayor Azucena P. Huervas provided ₱5,000 in cash assistance to each surrenderer.
Nokins, a former vice commanding officer, said the remarkable development in their community was a key factor in their decision to surrender.
“Mount Anahawon used to be our training camp, but now it has become a tourist spot with farm-to-market roads constructed,” he said.
He expressed renewed trust in the government’s initiatives, adding, “I was not wrong in trusting the government again. Many of us are encouraged to surrender because of the help we receive. This is our way of contributing to peace in our community.”
Brigadier General Marion T. Angcao, commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, lauded the collaborative efforts of LGU Valencia City and the 89th Infantry Battalion.
“The successful surrender of these six individuals, the recovery of their firearms, and the immediate assistance extended to them demonstrate our shared commitment to achieving an insurgency-free Valencia City,” said Angcao.
Mount Anahawon, once synonymous with rebel activity[remote rebel training ground], officially transformed into a public tourist destination in April 2025, symbolizing a new era of peace and progress for the region.
