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24
March 2010
CPP/NPA Rebel Surrendered High Powered Firearms
Camp Melchor F dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela - A Communist Party of
the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) member, voluntarily
surrendered with high powered firearms and other war materials to
negotiators of the 5th Civil Military Operations Battalion (5CMOBn), 5th
Infantry Division, Philippine Army last March 19, this year.
For protection, the Army identified the surrendered rebel only as AKA
MARIO, 37 years old, resident of Lubuagan, Kalinga and OB listed Nr 466
of Larangang Yunit Guerilla, KLG Baggas.
AKA MARIO voluntarily surrendered one (1) M16 rifle with defaced serial
number, one (1) M14 rifle with defaced serial number, one (1) hand
grenade, one (1) smoke grenade and one (1) claymore mine with blasting
cap and detonating cord.
At the peak of his five years in the armed communist movement, he was
designated as member of the Semi-Legal Team of the CPP/NPA operating in
the Municipalities of Pasil particularly at Barangay Uma of Lubuagan and
Mabaca of Balbalan, all of Kalinga Province. He claimed that from the
year 2005 until he surrendered, he concentrated on organizing works in
their area of operation (AOR).
COL LORETO C MAGUNDAYAO JR, Commanding Officer of 5CMOBn, said the
surrender of the rebel was motivated by his desire to live a normal life
with his family and the difficulty he encountered as a member of the
Communist Terrorist Movement (CTM).
COL MAGUNDAYAO JR further said that the negotiators of his unit
including 21st Infantry Battalion, 5ID, Pa and 3rd Light Armor Brigade
helped in convincing the rebel to surrender. Further, he formally
presented the rebel returnee to the newly promoted Commander of the
Army’s 5th Infantry Division, MGEN ROMMEL A GOMEZ AFP at this camp.
MGEN GOMEZ assured KA MARIO that he will receive the financial and
livelihood assistance and other benefits under the Social Integration
Program of the Government.
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