A HIGH-RANKING officer of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and five members surrender in Barangay Zamora, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.
The military identified the communist group leader as Badong Gumansel Lipanda alias “Reymund”, the CO of Pltn Banglas, Sub-Regional Committee 3, NCMRC.
Lipanda and the other five rebels also surrendered three high-powered firearms and three low-powered firearms, including one M16 rifle, two Gerand rifles, one shotgun and two cal. 45 pistols, all with magazine and live ammunition.
According to Lipanda, the fear for their lives, scarcity of food supply, being away from their families and children, as well as having no support from their former mass bases and higher units pushed them to surrender.
"Human sa mga sunod-sunod nga enkwentro sa kasundalohan, kawagtangan sa suporta sa mga masa, ug kawad-an sa suporta gikan sa among taas, ug apilan sa kalisod sa pagkaon ug kamingaw sa among mga anak, naka huna2x na gayud ako ug surrender uban sa akong asawa ug ubang myembro," Lipanda said.
"Maglisod na kaayo mi pagduol sa among mga kanhing masa kay dili na sila motuo sa amoa ug dili na nila gusto nga maapil pa sa kagubot," he added.
Lieutenant Colonel Sandy Majarocon, the commanding officer of the 26th Infantry Battalion, said the surrender of Lipanda and his comrades indicate the collapse of Pltn Banglas, a notorious communist group under RC3, NCMRC that has been conducting atrocities in the hinter areas of San Luis, Esperanza, and Talacogon in Agusan del Sur since 2010.
"Ako ug ang tibuok kasundalohan sa 26IB nalipay nga kamo nisunod sa panawagan sa atong gobyerno ug katawhan nga inyo nang undangon ang inyong walay pulos ug walay padulnganan nga kalihokan ug mobalik namo sa sabakan sa atong gobyerno ug mangamuyo nga maayo ug malinawon," Majarocon said.