NPA leaders arrested, members surrender

MANILA, Philippines — Seven ranking members of the New People’s Army (NPA)’s Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) have been arrested in North Cotabato in the past few weeks, prompting their supporters to surrender.

The capture and surrender of the guerrillas were the result of intensive military operations launched by the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion, according to Maj. Alex Mindalano, chief of the public information office of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom).

Mindalano said the NPA-PBC was deemed neutralized after the capture of its leaders and surrender of its four members and three supporters.

He said troopers recovered 11 firearms and a machine gun from the rebels.

The skirmishes first broke out on May 20 in Barangay New Israel in Makilala, North Cotabato between the guerrillas and government security forces.

The encounter continued the next day as the military pursued the guerrillas and arrested four leaders.

The remaining members of the NPA unit surrendered on May 22, 23 and 24.

Officials of Barangay Biangan helped facilitate the surrender of four guerrillas, the military said.

Eastmincom chief Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol lauded his men for going after the guerrillas.

He attributed the success of the operation to the support of local government units in the military’s campaign to end the communist armed conflict.

“Communities, local government units and security forces in both cities and rural areas have been working together to put an end to the country’s insurgency problem,” Almerol said.

He said the defeat of the NPA-PBC would end extortion activities and attacks on private and public properties in Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) and Davao region.

“With the PBC out of the picture, investors and local businessmen will now be at ease doing business in the regions,” he said.