LEBAK, Sultan Kudarat – Six communist rebels and 30 of their supporters surrendered to military authorities on Sunday, publicly denouncing communism and burning the New People’s Army (NPA) flag. The former rebels also staged a peace rally to condemn the NPA’s atrocities against civilians.
Lt. Col. Aeron T. Gumabao, commander of the Philippine Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion, confirmed on Monday that the surrendering individuals were operating in the villages of Basak, Bululawan, Nuling, Ragandang, and Poloy-Poloy, all in Lebak. He attributed the successful surrender to the Community Support Program (CSP) and the efforts of the Municipal and Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).
As part of their surrender, the group turned over 20 firearms, including an M16 rifle, .45-caliber pistols, grenade launchers, 12-gauge shotguns, and various rounds of ammunition. Authorities are now processing their reintegration into society under the government’s assistance programs.
Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, emphasized that the mass surrender signifies a weakening of the NPA’s influence in the area. “This is a clear indication that the communist rebels are losing their mass base support,” he said.
Gumiran urged other NPA rebels to take advantage of the government’s peace offer, highlighting ongoing efforts to bring stability and development to conflict-affected communities.