By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO
SAN MIGUEL, Surigao del Sur — The government’s campaign against communist insurgents in Southern Philippines scored anew the other day when three top leaders of the regional front of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to military officers here with their firearms, an area Army chief reported.
In a spot report sent to AFP chief staff Gen. Narciso Abaya, Maj. Gen. Samuel B. Bagasin, commanding general of the Army’s Northern and Southern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division, stated that the three top NPA regional fighters yielded to 58th Infantry Battallion commander Lt. Col. James Jacob two tubes of 60MM mortar and live ammunition and 81MM mortar with live ammunition.
Quoting a report from Col. Rogelio Rosete, commanding officer of the 401st Infantry (Unite and Fight) Brigade, General Bagasin said the war materiels belong to the Front Committee 19 of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA Northeastern Mindanao regional committee (NEMRC).
Identities of the three NPA personalities were temporarily withheld by the military commanders in the area who expected a mass surrender of the insurgents in a few days. “We are still awaiting their followers and several of their comrades-in-arms to come down from the hills, and they will come down any time now,” Bagasin said.
Last week, at least 110 NPA regular fighters with their four commanders and several high-powered firearms also surrendered in Awa, New Leyte, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
The area Army chief said the NPA in the area has lost its grip on its militia as its men are surrendering the NPA armaments entrusted to them.
“The NPA rebels in our area of responsibility are leaving some of their armaments to their local militias but the militias are tempted to surrender them to the government because of the BARIL fund,” he said.
BARIL is an acronym for “Bring A Rifle and Improve Livelihood.” It calls for the payment of every firearm turned over to the government. This is on top of the emergency cash assistance and livelihood package which will be afforded to them to hasten their return to the main stream of society,” Bagasin said.
“The surrender of these high-powered war materiels greatly downgraded the NPA’s capability to fight government troops. We will continue to hunt those who do not heed our call for peace.
owever, those who turn themselves in will be assisted in their effort to start a peaceful, productive life with their families,” Bagasin added.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente “BB” Pimentel and Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolf Edward “Eddie Bong” Plaza told field military commanders that they will continue their local initiatives to achieve peace.
