A RANKING leader of the New People’s Army’s (NPA) Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) have surrendered to military authorities in Zamboanga Sibugay Province, officials announced.
Lieutenant Colonel Don Templonuevo, 44th Infantry Battalion commander, identified the NPA surrenderers as Antonio Roda, also known as Ka Dondon and Ka Cindoy, the logistics and finance officer of the WMRPC; and, Ronel Racho alias Ka Bobby, an NPA guerrilla.
Templonuevo said the two surrendered to his battalion on Saturday, September 26, in the Municipality of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Templonuevo said Roda has spent 32 years in the terrorist organization while Camporedondo struggled for eight years.
Templonuevo said during the initial debriefing, Roda admitted they were losing grounds and the continuous surrender of their commanders and members made their organization in Western Mindanao is close to defeating.
Roda also revealed that local support, more government projects in hinterlands, visibility of troops, relentless military operation, and the pandemic were also the factors of their dwindling members, according to Templonuevo.
Roda and Racho surrendered two days after four of their comrades, including one of the Front Committee Secretary, yielded in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Brigadier General Leonel Nicolas, 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, attributed the continuous surrender of NPAs to the stakeholders, local communities, local government units, and local chief executives, who supported the Executive Order Number 70 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Convergence played a great role in our quest for peace and development in our area of responsibility,” Nicolas said.
Meanwhile, Major General Generoso Ponio, 1st Infantry Division commander, stressed to remain relentless despite the NPA's revelation.
“There are still remnants of their guerrilla fronts and other threats groups in our area of operation that needed to be addressed. Rest assured that we will neutralize and defeat them in due time,” Ponio said. (SunStar Zamboanga)