23rd Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey P. Balingao said the surrenderees belong to the Headquarters Force NEO, Regional Sentro De Gravidad COMPAQ, and Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC1), all under the so- called North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.
Balingao identified the NPA leader, Lino Atipan Namatidong alias Dahon, the Commanding Officer of Headquarters Force (HQF) Neo.
Dahon’s wife, Reyna Nanganlag with aliases Miray/Snooky” Namatidong, the Regional Staff for Education and Propaganda also surredered.
Other surrenderees were Nestor Panhayan “Labni/Jono” Namatidong; Ronie Namatidong “Allan” Polistico; Lyka Namulanta “Jelly” Lagaolao; Besto “Lagbas” Tumanan; Gay-gaya “Longhair” Tumanan; Ronald Abalang “Onad” Dungogan; Angleo Lomakin “Selda” Pal-ot; and Jerry Pinatubas “CJ” Inantag.
The surrenderees also surrendered several firearms including two M16 Rifles, three Shotguns, an AK47 Rifle, two M203 Grenade Launchers, Carbine Rifle, and a Garand rifle.
Balingao also said that the NPA couple, who are considered high-value individuals, revealed that low morale, no sense of direction, and exhaustion made them realize to give up and peacefully surrender.
Brigadier General Adonis Ariel G. Orio, Commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade said that the fall of the HQF Neo leadership, a once leadership stronghold, has confirmed the imminent downfall of CTG’s NCMRC and resulted in the disarray of the NPA in Northern Mindanao region.
He underscored the said success as a manifestation of the effective collaboration between the Army and its civilian partners under the Task Force ELCAC.
"We shall further strengthen our partnership with its stakeholders to put more pressure on the communist terrorist group (CTG), for them to continue disintegrating with the lack of support from the masses and the leadership vacuum continues. With all these successes, we are more determined to end this fight for the benefit and progress of our people,” Orio said.
EastMinCom Commander, Lt. General Greg Almerol, meanwhile, praised the troops of the 23IB, 402Bde of JTF Diamond for encouraging the leadership of Lino Namatidong to return to the folds of government through peaceful means.
Almerol urged those remnants of the CTG to yield peacefully just like their other comrades unless they want to follow those who have already died for a useless cause.
Photos from 4th ID
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