2 NPA leaders, 5 militias yield to gov’t authorities in Isabela

By Freddie Lazaro

CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela — Two ranking leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) and five members of the Milisya ng Bayan voluntarily surrendered to government authorities in Isabela amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Maj. Gen. Pablo M. Lorenzo, commander of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, confirmed the surrender of the two NPA leaders and five of their supporters in his jurisdiction.

He said they are now working on the former rebels’ possible inclusion in the benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

The surrendered rebels were identified as “AKA” Raul, 48, the squad leader of the Platoon Uno/Regional Sentro De Grabedad/Komiteng Rehiyong-Cagayan Valley (RSDG/KR-CV) of the NPA, and “AKA” Runo, the squad leader Central Front (CF), KR-CV of the NPA, and five members of the Milisyang Bayan identified as “AKA” Chor, 26, “AKA” Bobot, 55, “AKA” Alex, “AKA” Yakal, and “AKA” Lindona, all members of the Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL), CF, KR-CV, and residents of San Mariano, Isabela.

The surrenderees also turned-over to the authorities an M16 rifle, one Caliber 38 pistol, and an improvised pistol with 6 bullets.

They also surrendered a Night Vision Monocular, a Portable Electric Generator, an ICOM IC-V8 Radio, a Solar led lamp controller, two Cellphones, a Tablet Gadget, five Cellphone Chargers, a HP Printer, a power inverter, medical equipment, and subversive documents of the CPP-NPA rebels.

Lorenzo said the elements of the Army’s 502nd Infantry Brigade and the Army’s 95th Infantry Battalion, with operatives from the Isabela police provincial office, worked on the surrender of the rebels.

“I’m calling all the remnants of the CPP-NPA groups in the mountainous areas in Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions to return now to the fold of law for the sake of lasting peace and development,” he said.