11 NPA rebels surrender in Sultan Kudarat Province, 8 highpowered firearms handed over

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (May 22, 2017) - After a number of skirmishes between the government forces and the members of the New People's Army in Sultan Kudarat Province earlier this month, eleven (11) Communist Terrorists surrendered in Midtungok Village, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat Province at 10:00am Sunday (May 21) to the troops of the Joint Task Force Central, military official said.

JTF Central Commander, Brigadier General Arnel Delavega in his report to the WestMinCom Commander said, that the surrenderors handed over 8 high-powered rifles, including five M16 Rifles, two M1 Garand Rifles, and one AK 47 Rifle.

He said that all of the surrenderors are Manobo tribe residents of the hinterland village of Midtungok. Among them are: Ayob Mopac, Benjamin Kalay, Samuel Badak, Mel Pandi, Kang Mopac, Tiin Mooac, Usad Mopac, Long Oding, Sebio Masandag, Gabriel Mopac, and Nonoy Lapi.

Col. Bismarck Soliba, the Commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, also noted that the NPA in Sultan Kudarat is losing members due to demoralization in the ranks.

"The lumads are disgruntled over the unfulfilled promises of the NPA leaders. The members are dying in the encounters but the 'Supamil' (family support) for their followers was not provided," he said.

MGen. Arnel Dela Vega, also recognized the units involved saying, "This is a combined effort of the 33rd Infantry Battalion and the 57th Infantry Battalion. The surrender reflects the waning influence of the communist movement in the countryside," said Dela Vega.

"I am glad that these CTs have realized the futility of the armed struggle. Mayor Randy Ecija Jr of Sen. Ninoy Aquino town has shown to them that the LGU is ready to address the social issues in their town," he added.

After their surrender, the CTs were presented to the town Mayor, Randy Ecija, Jr, earlier on that day.

A debriefing will follow after the simple ceremony and the processing of documents.

Meanwhile in Basilan, two (2) more Abu Sayyaf members contacted the troops of the Joint Task Force Basilan to surrender at 10:45am on Saturday (May 20), official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Information Officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that a certain a.k.a Wowee Hassan and Samer Batin a.k.a Iroh, both under the ASG sub leader Nurhasan Jamiri surrendered to the troops of the 18th Infantry Battalion just two days after the surrender of two of their fellow Abus.

Joint Task Force Commander, Colonel Juvymax Uy specifically ordered his troops to fetch the duo and to bring them to the headquarters of 18IB at Sitio Camalig, Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan for the debriefing and documentation.

Hassan and Batin, who are both residents of Al Barka of same Province also turned-in a caliber .30 M1 garand rifle to the soldiers, Cpt. Petinglay added.

"The two Abu Sayyaf revealed that they fear for their lives as more of their fellow ASG members surrendered and gave information of the others. They said that they opted to surrender now believing that the government forces will eventually get them," Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command, who has operational command over the Joint Task Force Central and Basilan said.

"Again, my congratulations to our soldiers in JTF Central and Basilan for working hard and making sacrifices in order to make sure that the enemies of the people will continue to feel our brunt and our might, leading to their subsequent surrender," says LtGen Galvez who is in Davao attending the 2nd round of a Sultanate Summit.

"It is our intent that we continue to put pressure to these threat groups as we do both lethal and non-lethal approaches."

"Malaki ang naitulong sa atin ng mga local government officials sa laban na ito. Kasama na natin ang Sultanates, ang mga Ulama at traditional leaders, maging ang MILF, MNLF at ibang stakeholders," he said.

"Ito lang ay nagsasalamin na kapag tayo ay samasama sa iisang hangarin, nakakasiguro tayo na matatalo natin ang ano mang grupong na nagnanais maghasik ng kasamaan sa ating mga lugar," he added.