NPA squad leader yields in Misamis Occidental

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  -  A leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to police forces of a village in Misamis Occidental, a security official said on Thursday

Senior Superintendent James Mejia, Zamboanga del Norte police provincial director, said Paterno Sagadrata Cantutay Jr. known with the aliases Ram and Jolie,  35, single, surrendered to police forces under Senior Inspector Robert Esparagoza at Sapang Dalaga town Tuesday afternoon.

Cantutay, a resident of Barangay Lapangan, Don Victoriano town Misamis Occidental, is a squad leader of the Samahan Yunit Propaganda (SYP), a propaganda arm of the NPA Front ’89 based at Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province.

Police said Cantutay claimed he voluntarily surrendered to clear his name from the recent attack by NPA rebels at the pineapple plantation of the DOLE Philippines where a company guard was killed.

Cantutay also wanted to avail himself of  the government’s ‘balik masa’ program, the police said.