A self-confessed team leader of the Regional Strike Force (RSF) of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor surrendered to the 16th Scout Ranger Company on Jan. 8 in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Col. Leonardo Peña, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, identified the rebel returnee as Jerry Gargoles, known as Sargent and Angel in the revolutionary movement.
Gargoles, 21, was allegedly the RSF Squad 1 team leader. He surrendered a 45 caliber Colt pistol with a magazine containing seven ammunition, and a KG-9 caliber 9mm pistol with a magazine containing 21 ammunition, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
Peña, who welcomed the decision of Gargoles to abandon the armed struggle, said the former NPA leader told them that he realized that his life in the communist movement will just go astray.
“This is a clear manifestation that members of the CPP-NPA are losing their will to fight and the confidence with their movement because of their falsehearted ideology,” Peña said.
He also encouraged the NPA remnants to heed the government’s call for peace, stressing also that their relentless effort to hunt the NPA remnants will surely give them a miserable life. — GB
