NPA supporters surrender with firearms in Lanao Sur

By BITOON A RANAO

November 20, 2019

ILIGAN CITY: Four Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) supporters surrendered and yielded firearms to the Philippine Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion in Masiu, Lanao del Sur on Wednesday, the military said.

In a statement, the military did not, however, identify the surrenderees.

Lt. Col. Edgar Allan Villanueva, 49th Infantry Battalion commander, said the surrendered CNT supporters yielded one M16 rifle, one calibre 38 handgun, magazines and ammunitions.”

Villanueva said they were dissatisfied with the NPA organization and their terrorist activities.

“Our initial custodial debriefing also found out that, their surrender was the result of our relentless combat operation in the province of Lanao del Sur,” he added.

Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, 103rd Infantry Brigade Commander, who has operational jurisdiction of Lanao del Sur, facilitated the turn-over of the surrendered CNT supporter to Mr. Kisrawi Macarankat, Deputy Municipal Administrator of Municipality of Masiu.

“We are gaining grounds in our relentless operation in the province and we are thankful to the local populace and the local government unit for their continued trust and support”, said Cuerpo.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Bagnus Gaerlan Jr., acting commander of the 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces), commended the efforts of the troops that led to the surrender of the NPA supporters.

“We are confident that the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) were properly managed by various government agencies and will continuously encourage and facilitate our former rebels to return into the mainstream society”, said Gaerlan.

“We encourage other CNT members to surrender with their firearms, return to the folds of the law and benefit the Enhanced Local Integration Program which is part of the program of the Task Force ELCAC”, he added. ###