Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte — Top New People’s Army (NPA) Commander and four (4) NPA members and one (1) NPA Yunit Militia member voluntarily surrendered to joint elements of 97th Infantry “Kalasaglahi” Battalion (97th IB) and 42nd Infantry “Tagapagtanggol” Battalion under the 102nd Infantry “Igsoon” Brigade, 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, Philippine Army at Poblacion, Leon B Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte last Tuesday, 22 September 2020.
Surrendered NPA Commander and four (4) members identified as alias Warwar the Commander of Platoon Guerilla Front Feliciano Alpha (GF Flex “A”); alias RONALD, JOREL, and CHYNA MAE of Main Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU); and alias JIMMY member of Yunit Militia (YM) all under Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) operating in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Province of Misamis Occidental.
Alias Warwar served 20 years of his life inside the NPA after believing the lies of terrorist group, for 5 years he was the Commander of Platoon GF Flex, “A” before he chose to voluntarily surrender.
In a statement, alias War-war and four others surrenders recalled their hardships inside the terrorist group. “We just want to have a job to support our family, but they fooled us they indoctrinated all the lies against the government, but after we heard that our former comrades including alias Peewee who was also a Commander like me was humanely treated by the army by providing medical attentions and receiving benefits and assistance from the government we no longer waste time to run away from the group and surrender to the government.” alias War-war said.
It can be recalled that a Platoon of NPA under WMRPC Regional Headquarters Kalaw of WMRPC surrendered also to 97th Infantry “Kalasaglahi” Battalion under 102nd Infantry Brigade last 14 August 2020
“By their surrender many more NPA personalities will hear the news and hopefully surrender and return to society to lead a peaceful and progressive life.” Lt. Col. Manaros M Boransing, Commanding Officer, 97th IB said on his statement.
“We will facilitate their benefits and enroll them to the government’s Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) to receive assistance that can help them start a new life once they are reintegrated into society” added Lt. Col. Boransing added.
As of this posting surrendered NPA rebels finally reunited with their families and will undergo medical treatment and debriefing given by government forces.
(Source: Kalinaw Ug Kauswagan 97IB)