Davao, Philippines – Nine individuals, previously affiliated with three dismantled New People’s Army (NPA) units, recently surrendered to authorities in the Davao region, as confirmed by the Philippine Army on Tuesday. The group, carrying a range of high-powered firearms, included former combatants from different factional groups.
According to Philippines News Agency, commander of the Philippine Army's 1001st Infantry Brigade, these former insurgents had operated within the brigade's area of responsibility. In Monkayo, Davao de Oro, four of these rebels yielded to the Army's 25th Infantry Battalion on various dates in April, including the 15th, 22nd, 24th, and 27th. Two were linked to the NPA's Dismantled Regional Headquarters of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, and the others were from Dismantled Guerrilla Front 2, submitting four improvised explosive devices among other materials.
Additionally, on April 24, four ex-members of Dismantled Guerrilla Front 33 and one from the Dismantled Pulang Bagani Command, operating across the borders of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Agusan del Sur, surrendered to the 60th Infantry Battalion. This group handed over five high-powered firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, a Bushmaster rifle, two M16 rifles, and an M14 rifle.
Brig. Gen. Babac commended the operations of the battalions under his command for their role in facilitating these surrenders. He reassured that his brigade would continue its efforts to pursue remaining NPA elements, despite the areas being declared insurgency-free in 2022, with Davao del Norte on June 13 and Davao de Oro on June 22.