4 CNTs surrender to the army in SurSur
Two of them surrendered to 75IB on May 6, while the remaining two
surrendered to 36IB on May 7.
The 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army revealed that a certain John Paul
Loyola, 23 years old, the team leader of team Baking, Squad 2 of the
Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad Southland (SRSDG-SL) under the Northeastern
Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), and Ruel Tawede alias Rocco, 47 years old,
the commanding officer of Militia ng Bayan/Hikling, Lumpong 5 surrendered to
the 75th Infantry Battalion under the leadership of Lt. Col. Jan B. Molero in
Brgy. Magroyong, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on May 6. They brought along with
them two (2) high-powered rifles composed of one (1) M14 rifle and one (1) M1
carbine rifle.
Identified as CNT couples, Jonas Angeles alias Remboy/Angel, 28 years old, and
his live-in partner Inday Sampaga alias Ilen, both members of the weakened
Guerilla Front 16 under the NEMRC voluntarily surrendered to the 36th Infantry
Battalion under the leadership of Lt. Col. Michael Rey Reuyan at Purok 4, Brgy,
Pantukan, Carascal, Surigao del Sur on May 7, 2023.
According to Angeles, he was exploited for nine (9) months and decided to leave
due to uncertainty when he was left to take care of himself from a gunshot
wound that he sustained during an encounter at Mapula, Brgy. Esperanza, Carmen,
Surigao del Sur on April 15, 2023. They also surrendered one (1) M16 rifle.
Since January 2023, a total of 67 CTG members have surrendered to 4ID in the
hopes of returning back to the community, be reunited with their families and
live a normal life.
4ID Commander Maj. Gen. Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II said, that said CNTs have
returned to the folds of the law mainly because of discouragement and after the
series of neutralization, voluntary surrender, apprehension, and death of their
leaders from successful military operations.
“The continuous exhaustion due to our relentless focused military operations
and the many failed promises of the communist terrorist group (CTG) led the
former rebels to abandon the organization," the official said. (NGPB/with
a report from Major Francisco. Garello-DPO-4ID, Phil. Army)
