840 NPAs surrender in central, northern Luzon

By Freddie Lazaro 

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – An Army official has cited the implementation of the “Whole of Nation Approach” to end the local Communist armed conflict as the reason for the surrender of 840 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and supporters in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Major General Lenard T. Agustin, the commander of the army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, said the collaboration of the national government agencies (NGAs) and the local government units (LGUs), as mandated by Executive Order 70, played an active role in the bid to end insurgency in their areas of responsibility, especifically in Central and Northern Luzon.

These LGUs and NGAs have worked with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in bringing about inclusive peace and sustainable development to the nation.

“With more stakeholders putting in efforts to show the people, down to the barangay level, what we have to offer, what benefits await them should they (the NPA members and their supporters) surrender; more of them (NPA members) are taking courage to come back, be with their families, and experience peace,” said Agustin.

He said that the 840 NPA rebels and supporters surrendered to the different line units under his command located in Regions 1 and 3.

A majority of the surrenderers, or 438, gave themselves up to the 69th Infantry Battalion in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, followed by 48th Infantry Battalion in Bulacan which recorded 222; while the 84th Infantry Battalion in Carranglan recorded 100 surrenderers.

“I credited the implementation of the EO 70 as the reason for the surrenders of these 840 NPA rebels and supporters in our areas of jurisdiction,” he said.