One hundred seventy-four (174) members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) have yielded to the government troops in two (2) separate mass surrender activities in the Caraga region held at Headquarters 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion Brgy Zamora, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur and at Sitio Macopa, Brgy. Poblacion, Carmen, Agusan del Norte last Thursday, August 20, 2020.
In one day, two (2) mass surrender activities were conducted as a result of the efforts and interventions of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the 402nd Brigade in partnership with the PNP’s Community Action Team (ComACT).
Attended by Hon. Pauline Marie R. Masendo, Municipal Mayor of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur and Brigadier General Maurito L. Licudine, 402nd Brigade Commander, the 26IB under the leadership of Lt. Col. Reynald Romel Goce, welcomed the surrender of twenty-four (24) CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) composed of seven (7) regular NPAs and seventeen (17) Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members bringing along with them twenty-three (23) assorted firearms.
Meanwhile, a total of one hundred fifty (150) CTG members surrendered to the 23IB under the leadership of Lt. Col. Julius Cesar Paulo during the ceremonial mass surrender at Sitio Macopa, Brgy. Poblacion, Agusan del Norte with Hon. Jovitte C. Calo, Municipal Mayor of Carmen, Agusan del Norte as Guest of Honor and Speaker. The surrenderees composed of twenty-four (24) MB members, one-hundred twenty-six (126) Mass Supporters brought along with them two (2) Cal. 45 Pistols, three (3) Cal. 38 Pistols, one (1) Cal. 22 rifle, nine (9) Home Made/Improvised Shotguns to include several explosive materials and ammunitions.
Brigadier General Maurito L. Licudine, Commander of the 402nd Brigade lauded the remarkable accomplishment of the 23IB and 26IB which he said is very timely in view of the intensified campaign against the CTG that is continuously weakening and losing support from the communities.
“We are indeed pleased and optimistic on the turnout of surrenderees orchestrated by our Battalions through our CSP. These were not made possible without the convergence efforts and support of the LGUs, IP communities and peace partner stakeholders under the Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC)” Licudine said.
For this month of August 2020 alone prior to the said mass surrender activities, thirteen (13) regular CNTs bringing with them seven (7) firearms have abandoned the armed struggle and surrendered to 23IB and 58IB, both operationally controlled battalions of the 402nd Brigade.
It can be recalled that on August 6, 2020, four (4) CNTs namely: @JB and @MIYA, both from Platoon RYAN of SRC-1, NCMRC bringing along with them two (2) firearms; and @RONALD and @ROSE from SDG FELOT of SRC-1, NCMRC, surrendered to the 58th Infantry (Dimalulupig) Battalion. According to them, they were given false promises that they will have a better life if they joined the terrorist organization.
While on August 12, 2020, four (4) CNT members from SYP KINGDOM, GF4A, NCMRC namely: @AMALIA, 21 years old and @SIMON/JUDGE, 27 years old, both members of Squad Uno, SYP KINGDOM, GF4A, NCMRC; @BENON, 34 years old, Team Leader, and @HAPPY, 18 years old, both from Squad Dos, SYP KINGDOM, GF4A, NCMRC, voluntarily surrendered to the 23IB troopers. During the interview, these CNTs revealed that they abandoned the dying cause of the communist terrorist movement after realizing that they were deceived by the propaganda and false promises of the CTG.
Moreover, last August 16, 2020, two (2) CNTs namely: @REY, 29 years old and @GRACE, 28 years old both members of Squad-2, SRDG SAGAY, SRC-3, NCMRC who wish to start anew with their lives after thirteen (13) years inside the terrorist organization, surrendered to the elements of 23IB under the operational control of 402nd Brigade bringing along with them two (2) high-powered firearms.
Since January 2020 and prior to the mass surrender, the 402nd Brigade has ‘neutralized’ a total of two-hundred eighty-eight (288) CTG personalities composed of two-hundred forty-one (241) surrenders (sixty-four (64) regular NPAs, forty (43) MBs and one-hundred thirty-four (134) UGMO/Supporters), twenty-seven (27) apprehended and twenty (20) killed CNTs.
BGen Licudine added that the CNT neutralization is significant to complement the Caraga RTF ELCAC efforts and pave the way for them to provide interventions in order to address issues commonly exploited by the CTG in the communities considered as geographical isolated, disadvantaged and conflict affected areas (GIDCAs).
He said, “While we are committed to relentlessly pursue the remaining CNTs who opted not to lay down their arms, we can assure them that the government particularly your Army is here and ready to assist former rebels and their families to transition in becoming productive members of the society”.
BGen. Licudine explained that all stakeholders have a role in the government efforts to reintegrate members of the CPP-NPA and help achieve just and lasting peace in every community.
(402BDE, Bancasi BC | RPN DXKS Surigao)
