Military urges NPA rebels to surrender peacefully

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Following the mass surrender of the communist rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) in eastern Mindanao, the Philippine Army has urged other fighters to yield and avail of the government’s amnesty program and live peacefully with their families.

Just recently, a senior NPA commander and his wife, including eight ranking leaders, surrendered to 23rd Infantry Battalion and other intelligence units of Joint Task Force Diamond in Butuan City.

Those who yielded were rebel leader, Lino A. Namatidong, his wife Reyna N. Namatidong, Regional Staff, Education and Propaganda; and eight others NPA ranking leaders - Nestor P. Namatidong, Squad 3 Team Leader; Ronnie N. Polistico, Squad 4 Leader; Angleo L. Pal-ot, Squad 2, Regional Sentro De Gravidad Compaq Political Guide; Lyka N. Lagaolao, Squad 4 Medic; Jerry P. Inantag, Sub-RSDG MTJ Eagles, SRC1 member;  and Besto Tumanan, Gay-gaya Tumanan, and Ronald A. Dungogan, all Squad 4 members.

They also surrendered three shotguns, two M16 automatic rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, an AK-47 assault rifle, a Carbine rifle, and a Garand rifle.  The rebels were all under the Headquarters Force Neo and Sub-Regional Committee of the Northern Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, chieftain of the Eastern Mindanao Command, lauded the surrender of the rebels and the army units involved in the operation for encouraging the leadership of Namatidong to return to the fold of government through peaceful means.

“We are looking into the possibility that the surrender of Namatidong would induce more capitulation in the coming days, especially from his downline members. Thus, I urge those remnants of the CTG (communist terrorist group) to yield peacefully just like your other comrades unless you want to follow those who have already died for a useless cause,” Almerol said.

He said the mass surrender was also the result of their persistent calls for the rebels to yield to spare their lives from the intensified military operations. The NPA has been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state. (Mindanao Examiner)