Top NPA leader in Mindoro surrenders

CAMP NAKAR, Lucena City — A high ranking commander of the New People‘s Army (NPA) operating in Mindoro recently surrendered to the 80th Infantry Battalion through the efforts of the provincial government of Occidental Mindoro.

Solcom commander Maj. Gen. Alexander Yano said that on Sept. 24, Antenor Corpuz, alias Masong, Tamil, Dupax, Sander, and Igpao, the deputy secretary of the Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla 1, surrendered to Gov. Josephine Ramirez-Sato and Provincial Board member Peter Alfaro of Occidental Mindoro at the Manila Manor Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

Yano said Corpuz, expressing his desire to live a peaceful and normal life with his family, abandoned the underground movement and returned to the fold of the law.

Corpuz is now under the custody at 2nd Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.

Yano expressed his appreciation to Sato’s move despite the threats posed against her by the NPAs.

"This is a welcome development after the Catanauan mayor’s action to file charges against the NPA. We see an increasing number of local chief executives displaying their support and cooperation to the government’s campaign against the main hindrance to our peace and development," Yano said.

Catanauan Mayor Sebastian Serrano, along with his councilors, filed charges against the NPA with the Joint Monitoring Committee of the GRP Negotiating Panel and the CPP-NPA-NDF for violations of human rights.

These incidents included the fatal shooting of Raquel Rodelas and the wounding of her nine-year-old daughter Rowena on June 26, 2005 by 15 armed NPAs in Barangay San Vicente Kanluran, Catanauan, Quezon and the ambush-slay of unarmed 74th IB soldiers in the same barangay on June 29, 2006.