Maramag, Bukidnon – Eleven (11) NPA regular members including one (1) child-soldier of Guerilla Front Malayag, Sub-Regional Committee 2 (SRC2) of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) voluntarily surrendered to the combined elements of 88th Infantry Battalion, Military Intelligence Battalion, and 3rd Infantry Battalion bringing along with the five (5) M16A1 Riffle, one (1) M203 Grenade Launcher, explosives and ammunitions at Headquarters 88IB, Barangay Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon on November 17, 2021. The said surrender came as a result of the unit’s continued campaign against the said terrorist group in the mountainous areas of Pantaron Mountain Ranges, covering Malaybalay City, San Fernando, and Cabanglasan Bukidnon.
Micheal B Mantikinon alias KIMAY/DALLAS, 27 years old a Commanding Officer, Front Operational Command, with his communist party wife, Irish B Arcayan alias TRIXIE/AIAI, Political Instructor and nine (9) other decided to return to the folds of law after Ramil Banawan Alias MIGS, their front secretary, was apprehended by the elements of 88th Infantry Maringal Battalion at Mt. Kumong Tabanog, Sitio Lugayaran, Barangay Palacpacan, San Fernando Bukidnon on October 25, 2021.
According to Alias KIMAY, fatigue, hunger, lack of sleep and the desire to be with their families and loved ones were the other reasons he and his group decided to finally return to the folds of the law and abandon the armed struggle. They further disclosed that losing their leaders and the continuous focused military operation by the Philippine Army in their known guerilla bases had caused them to be always on the run, which prevented them from doing organizing works in their target barangays.
The 17-year-old minor member of the said group was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Quezon, Bukidnon to undergo interview and stress debriefing. The continuous recruitment of our youth to be child-soldier is a proof of CTG’s disrespect to Human Rights and a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law.
Following the health protocol to prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus, the said personalities were subjected to Covid-19 Antigen-test with negative result.
LTC CHRISTIAN JAMES P VINGNO, Commanding Officer of 88IB in his statement said: I lauded the acts and decisions of Alias KIMAY and his members, who finally abandoned the Communist Terrorist Group. “The comprehensive conduct of Community Support Program (CSP) and the focused military operation of government troops have been instrumental in the rapid destruction of Guerilla Front Malayag. This is a clear indicator that we are near to ending this 52-year of local communist armed conflict.” The unit will continue to fulfill our mandate that is to protect and provide quality service to the People. Vingno added. (RPN DXKS Surigao via 1LT SANCHO S TOMAQUIN JR QMS PA/CMO Officer)