3 NPA rebels surrender in Davao del Norte

The surrenderers also yielded two high-powered firearms, assorted medical paraphernalia, and war materials to Philippine Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion.

Lt. Col. Merrill Sumalinog, commander of 60IB facilitated the surrender of the NPA returnees as Bernon/Dose; Gorio; and alias Yanyan.

They were all members of Guerrilla Front 3 (GF 3), Sub- Regional Committee 4 (SRC 4), Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC). 

They are all listed in the Periodic Status Report (PSR) -a watchlist of the members of the NPA maintained by Army units. 

According to Sumalinog, the surrenderers revealed to them that hardships due to lack of supplies and support from the masses forced them to surrender. 

They also told soldiers that the surrender of their leaders and comrades added pressure in their decisions.

“We decided to surrender to 60IB because we have heard of the humane treatment of the soldiers to our former comrades who already surrendered, they have been helping them in all of their needs including legal requirements and helped us to connect with our families and loved ones,” Bernon said in vernacular. 

Recently, 13 members of the same unit led by its commander alias SM also surrendered to the military.

“We are seeing the end of Guerilla Front 3 and SRC 4 as well and I am glad to inform you that this happened without a single bullet shot against the enemy. This all happened through persistent negotiations backed by the people of the community through their strengthened Integrated Territorial Defense System,”Sumalinog said.

Sumalinog said the community-especially the Indigenous Peoples- can now confidently live their peaceful lives far from the atrocities, violence, and exploitation they have experienced in the arms of the communist terrorists.

The three surrenderees are currently undergoing documentation and processing to Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) - a government intervention specifically designed for the former members of the NPA who surrendered and returned to the folds of the Law- for Immediate and Livelihood Assistance and cash remuneration for surrendered firearms.

60IB in a a statement said they will not stop in rescuing the only four remaining members of the NPA's Guerrilla Front 3 in order to totally dismantle and ultimately put an end to insurgency in this part of the region.