CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City - Nine former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) guerilla front operating in Samar were presented to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, March 29.
The relentless combat and non-combat operations of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division resulted in the surrender of Normie Quilapio, vice commander; and Adelfa Tebrero, political guide of Guerilla Front Damol, along with seven other members.
The group is in charge of transporting and distributing war materiel and medical supplies to different units of the communist terrorist group in the region.
They were presented to the Samar Provincial Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) at the 8th Infantry Division Headquarters in Camp Lukban in Catbalogan, Samar.
At the event were National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon; AFP Chief of Staff General Andres Centino, 8ID Commander Major General De Leon; and Philippine National Police Chief Police General Dionardo Carlos.
The former rebels also disclosed vital information to government forces which led to the discovery of an arms cache in Villareal, Samar, on March 26.
A total of 30 high-powered firearms and war materiel, including components of anti-personnel mines which the International Humanitarian Law bans, were seized by the 46th Infantry Battalion.
Five motorized banca used to transport war materiel and combatants in the region were also confiscated.
“We intend to comply with the President’s instruction to end the local communist armed conflict before his term as President ends. We will keep our momentum and remain focused on hunting down the remaining high-value targets in Samar,” General Centino said.///(Photo by TSg Randulf Obinque PAF/PAOAFP)
