In a significant development in the fight against communism, 133 members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) have surrendered to various police units in the Mimaropa region since the beginning of 2024, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4B. The Mimaropa region includes the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan. Out of the total surrenderers, 10 were noted in the periodic status report (PSR), with the remainder identified as members, supporters, and militiamen. Among the most recent to surrender were ‘Ka Cente’, aged 60, ‘Ka Vensor’, aged 58, and ‘Ka Dario’, aged 33, who were previously part of the now-defunct Kilusang Larangan Guerilla-Mark Anthony Velasco (KLG-MAV), Sub-Regional Military Area (SRMA)-4D. They surrendered to the 403rd B MC Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro on January 20, also handing over a hand grenade. Brig. Gen. Roger Quesada, the PRO 4B chief, praised the collaborative efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other partner agencies in their ongoing mission to eradicate local communist terrorism and foster lasting peace in the region. He urged remaining rebels to surrender and rejoin society, highlighting the government’s readiness to provide livelihood and reintegration support to help them start anew with their families. Quesada also acknowledged the crucial role of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in the government’s counter-insurgency efforts.
133 Communist Rebels and Supporters Surrender in Mimaropa Region Since January 2024
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