A team leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) yielded to the troops of the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan on Saturday afternoon, said WestMinCom Commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr.
“The surrendered personality was identified as Mary Grace Tumapad Buhawi, a.k.a. Say2x/Princess/Maika, 25 years old, single, and a resident of Purok 2, Brgy. San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental. She was the Platoon Team Leader of Team Baking, Squad 1, Guerilla Front Sendong, Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee,” said Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr.
Lt. Gen. Vinluan further said that Buhawi surrendered to the troops of the 10th Infantry Battalion at Purok 5, Barangay Katipunan, the same municipality.
During the initial interrogation, Buhawi said that the continuous combat operations forced her team to move day and night. With the difficulty in evading the government forces, she decided to submit herself to the government forces.
“We are starving because we have limited food supply and we are experiencing a lot of hardships moving from one place to another,” Buhawi said in the local language.
Meanwhile, 102nd Infantry Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas said that the continuous negotiation efforts of the intelligence units contributed to the successful surrender of Buhawi.
Further, Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, JTF ZamPeLan Commander, said that the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan through all of its subordinate units continues to welcome the former enemies of the state who signify intent to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law.
Likewise, Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. said, “We believe that it is always best that the members of the different terrorist groups are neutralized through surrender and without firing a single bullet.”
“I commend the efforts of the JTF ZamPeLan for this recent accomplishment,” the commander added.
(Source: Western Mindanao Command)