The Philippine Army reported a total of 224 successful operations in August resulting in the surrender of 142 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and apprehension of 49 other NPA rebels and other lawless elements, with 12 enemy encampments discovered in different parts of the country.

“The Philippine Army has already done considerable developments in its intensified operations against the rebel forces, most especially in the southern regions of the country,” said Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, Jr.

He said most recent proof to this was the relatively larger number of surrenders, apprehensions, recovery of war materiel, and discovery of rebel camps.

He said in the past month, the Army conducted a total of 224 successful operations throughout the country. These included 142 surrenders and 49 apprehensions of rebels and other lawless elements. Of these incidents, 99 NPA and 71 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members were reported, attesting to the fact that more and more rebels either surrender or are being caught by local Army units in the country.

“Most notable of these was the surrender of 66 MILF members in Maguindanao and a total of 36 NPA surrenderees from Bukidnon,” Burgos said.

Also during the month of August, there were 21 reported incidents of war materials recovered and 12 rebel encampments discovered.

“There is not a doubt that these developments had weakened the rebel forces and for Army units to easily carry out their operations, all in the fulfillment of mission of providing a far more peaceful Philippines by 2010. The Philippine Army shall not lose momentum, but instead, shall aim at conducting more successful operations,” Burgos said.

Meanwhile, a high-ranking NPA rebel was apprehended in a recent operation by joint elements of the 81st Infantry Battalion and the Intelligence unit of the 7th Infantry Division in Aurora Province.

Reports reaching the Army headquarters disclosed that a certain Delfin Pimentel alias Ka Medy/Liben, said to be a communist terrorist leader, was apprehended together with one Imelda Dacer at barangay Umiray, Dingalan, Aurora.

Pimentel is reportedly the former secretary of the Aurora Provincial Committee (PCOM) and the concurrent secretary of KLG Aurora under Aurora PCOM.