Three self-confessed leaders of the New People’s Army and 13 of their followers, under the Leonardo Panaligan Command in central Negros, have abandoned the armed struggle and surrender to authorities Sept. 20 in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that the three NPA leaders, whose identities were withheld by the military for security reasons, include a commanding officer of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon, a political instructor, and a medical officer.
The 16 NPA personalities and nine former rebels, who surrendered to the 62nd Infantry Battalion on March 29, took their oaths of allegiance and pledged to support the government, in rites administered by Mayor Filomeno Reyes, chairperson of the Local Task Force–Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict, in an activity held in Barangay Poblacion, Guihulngan City.
The Guihulngan TF-ELCAC is composed of the city government, the 62nd Infantry Battalion, local police, 61st Special Action Force, PNP Special Action Battalion 6, and other government agencies.
After the symbolic burning of a CPP-NPA flag, the activity culminated with the distribution of 25 goats, 25 sacks of fertilizer, hygiene kits, and assorted RTW clothes to the former rebels.
Pasaporte said that the mass surrender of active and former rebels assigned in central Negros was a product of focused military operations, intensified information operations, and local peace engagement, of the 62IB, led by Lt. Col. William Pesase, in coordination with other government security forces and agencies.
Ka Jimbo, who commanded the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon of Central Negros 1, known as the Leonardo Panaligan Command, revealed that hunger, fear, and being tired of being always on the run, and abandoning their families, drove them to surrender./GB
