Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City – Few days after President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to remaining CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) to surrender, two high-ranking leaders and five members of the New People’s Army laid down their weapons to the 403rd Infantry Brigade in Barangay Manalog, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, on March 9, 2021.
They surrendered 11 high-powered firearms composed of four M16 rifles, three AK47 rifles, two M653 rifles, one M230 grenade launcher, and one M14 rifle.
According to Brigadier General Ferdinand T Barandon, Commander of the 403rd Brigade, the surrenderees were Armando Daluniag alias Ambo/Satur/Pegan/Dario, Commanding Officer, Headquarters Force (HQF) Neo, Northern Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC), and former Deputy Secretary of Guerilla Front 89 together with Roland Lagunday alias Ben Squad Leader, Squad 2, Platoon 2, HQF Neo, NCMRC and five other members of the said group.
Daluniag stated that they grew tired with the movement because of failed promises and even their families’ welfare were disregarded. He also encouraged his comrades who still continue to fight against the government to follow their footsteps and lay down their firearms.
“Ang hinungdan nganong nibalik ko kay ang kalihukan ang pasalig nila sa una dili na mao karon. Walay natabang nga maayo sa akong pamilya. Ang panawagan nako sa mga kauban nga gibiyaan namo, kadtong mga naa may mga panghuna-huna muhawa na pud diha. Dili mana tinuod nga i-torture ta kung munaog ta, kay sa karon gi-ayo man mi og entertain sa kasundalohan, wala man mi hilabti.” (I surrendered due to the unfulfilled promises of the movement and it did not do good to my family. I call on to our fellow comrades to leave the armed group. It is not true that we will be tortured once we surrender. In our case we were entertained properly by the soldiers.) Daluniag said.
BGen Barandon added that the surrender of the seven NPAs is the result of “our cooperation through the Executive Order No. 70 and the NTF-ELCAC of which we all come together for one purpose – to end the local communist armed conflict.” He further said that this is a great development to the campaign against insurgency.
Meanwhile, Major General Andres Centino, 4th Infantry Division Commander, said that the NPA leaders’ surrender is a response to the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the remnants of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) to surrender.
With this current development, “we expect that more NPAs will follow their leaders by heading to the call of the President to return to the folds of the government. Parang magkakaroon ng domino effect yan kung makita ng mga kasamahan nila na nagsibabaan na yung mga ilang members of the group, it would definitely have an effect dun din sa moral nung naiiwan pa.” MGen Centino added.
During his visit to Cagayan de Oro City last March 5, President Duterte assures the CNTs that the government will provide all the necessary assistance such as livelihood, skills training, and housing, among others to those who will return to the folds of the government.
“The surrenderees are now under the custody of 403rd Brigade for debriefing. We will ensure that all the benefits mentioned by the President will be provided to them under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) to help them have a better future with their families,” MGen Centino stressed.
