BUTUAN CITY – Sixteen New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered and two others were killed in a series of encounters and operations this month in Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions, the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) reported Tuesday.
Military operations also led to the recovery of 28 firearms from the NPA, according to a news release.
On Sept. 14, four NPA insurgents from the dismantled Headquarters Force NEO of Sub-Regional Committee 2 (SRC-2) and seven Militia ng Bayan members surrendered to the Army’s 88th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Bulonay, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. They also surrendered eight M1 Garand rifles, an M16 rifle, an M653 rifle and a homemade shotgun.
On the same day, two guerrillas from the NPA Sub-Regional Sentro De Gravidad Westland of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) surrendered to the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
On Sept. 8, a medic and the team leader of the dismantled Guerrilla Front 30 (GF-30) surrendered to the 36th IB in Barangay Puyat, Carmen, Surigao del Sur, handing over two M16 rifles.
They also led the 36IB to recover an M16 rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, and an AK-47 rifle in Barangay Sibahay, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.
On Sept. 7, troops from the 75th IB encountered about 30 NPA rebels in Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. The clash resulted in the recovery of nine high-powered firearms, ammunition, and six anti-personnel mines.
On Sept. 9, another skirmish between the 75IB and NPA rebels in the same area led to the death of Felipe Tejero Sr., commanding officer of Platoon 7 of the dismantled Guerrilla Front 9 NEMRC, and the recovery of an M4 rifle.
The following day, troops from the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade encountered the same group of NPA rebels in Barangay Bolhoon, resulting in the death of Florencio Montella, a political instructor of the NEMRC.
Government forces recovered an M16 rifle with magazines and ammunition, two anti-personnel landmine blasting caps, three bandoliers, a medical kit and a backpack.
On Sept. 6, the 36IB encountered remnants of the dismantled NPA GF-30 in Barangay Calatagan, San Miguel, recovering a firearm and a backpack.
Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Cuero, 4ID commander, expressed confidence in the imminent defeat of the NPA rebels in the region following the recent setbacks.
“The steady reduction of the NPA’s manpower and firepower shows the effectiveness of our military operations and peace initiatives,” he said. (PNA)
