Out of the number, 271 are members of Underground Mass Organizations (UGMO), 17 are members of Milisyang Bayan (MB), and 7 are members Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) who used to be supporters and sympathizers of the NPA.
Thw Philippine Army 30th Infantry Battalion in a report said these NPA supporters are residents of five barangays in Surigao del Norte including Tapian in the municipality of Mainit, Barangay Karihatag of Malimono town, Magtanggale, Macopa, and Barangay Balite of San Francisco of said province.
Apart from signing the oath of allegiance to the government and declaring the CPP-NPA as person non-grata, the group also burned the replica of the NPA flag which signifies their abandonment of the dismantled communist organization in the province.
First Lieutenant Christian Elpedes, 30th IB civil military officer said the immersion of the Community Support Program (CSP) within the said barangays aided the military to discover and capture several war materials including 5.56 M16 rifle; M79 grenade launcher, two Anti-tank Improvised Explosive Device (IED), and subversive documents.
Lt. Col. Ryan Charles G Callanta, 30IB commander, expressed his gratitude to the former members of UGMOs for voluntarily taking their oath and allegiance to the government.
“We are thankful that these people previously deceived by the NPA heeded our call for peace and enabled the government machinery to facilitate the delivery of basic services as a catalyst for progress and development,” he said.
Callanta said communist terrorist groups (CTGs) are professional swindlers who take advantage of the people and lay out snares of deception promising nothing but pain and pointless struggles.
“We are positive that more NPA members and supporters will follow the lead of their comrades and will choose to live a better and peaceful life”, Callanta added.
Phptos: 30th IB