BONGABON, Nueva Ecija (PIA) — Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) based in Bongabon town voluntarily surrendered to the folds of the government Thursday.
24-year old “Julius” and 30-year-old “Nelva” belonged to Platoon Dos of KLG-Sierra Madre.
“Originally residents of Bustos town in Bulacan, both were active members of the NPA. Julius is a Vice Commanding Officer while Nelva served as Squad Medic,” 703rd Brigade Commander Col. Andrew D. Costelo said.
Their surrender was possible through the joint efforts of the 91st Infantry Battalion, 1stProvincial Mobile Force Company of Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, intel operatives of Collection Team 3 of the 91st Infantry Battalion and the municipal government of Bongabon.
Through the returnees, security forces were able to locate an arms cache that resulted to the recovery of one M-14 rifle, one M16 rifle, four M-14 magazine with 32 rounds of ammunition, three M-16 magazine with nine rounds of ammunition and five meter wires and detonating cord which are components for making improvised explosive devices.
“With the marching order from President Rodrigo R. Duterte to immediately put an end to local communist insurgency, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
made efforts to conduct intensified coordination with local government units, national government agencies and civil society organizations to continually convince more confused and lost brethren back to the mainstream of society,” Costelo added. (CLJD/WLB-PIA 3)