A New People's Army (NPA) Amazon has voluntarily surrendered for the sake of the future of her 21-day-old baby, while a ranking NPA leader was arrested in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, the military said.
The 6th Infantry Division (6ID) said that 22-year-old alias "Haydie" voluntarily surrendered on Sunday, July 20, 2025, to the troops of the 37th Infantry Battalion, bringing along her 21-day-old baby.
Haydie said she decided to surrender due to extreme fatigue from the successive military operations, and her duty as a mother.
"I can no longer put my child in danger. Our lives have no direction in the movement," said Haydie, a member of Squad 1, Platoon 2, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Daguma of the NPA's Far-South Mindanao Region (FSMR).
Brigadier General Michael Santos, 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the surrender of a mother carrying a newborn baby reflects the effectiveness of their operation and the lack of a future within the terrorist movement.
"Pagod na sila, takot na sila, at unti-unti nang nawawala ang kanilang paniniwala sa armadong pakikibaka. Patuloy ang ating paghahatid ng makataong operasyon na magbubukas ng pintuan para sa pagbabalik-loob ng mga nalalabing kasapi ng Communist Terrorist Group (They are tired, they are scared, and they are gradually losing their faith in the armed struggle. We continue to deliver humanitarian operations that will open the door for the surrender of the remaining members of the CTG)," Santos said.
Major General Donald Gumiran, 6ID commander, said the surrender of Haydie marked a new beginning for her child and their future.
"No mother with a baby deserves to hide in the forest to survive. Her surrender reflects her desire for inner peace and peace-things that every citizen also desires," Gumiran said.
He also urged other members of the NPA to abandon the path of violence and embrace a new hope.
Lieutenant Colonel Christopherson Capuyan, 37IB commander, identified the arrested rebel as Domingo Cranzo, 60, who carries the aliases of Golyat and Pedro, the Vice Team Leader of Squad 2, Platoon 2, SRC Daguma, FSMR.
Capuyan said Cranzo has a standing warrant of arrest for violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 issued by a court in Iligan City. Cranzo is also facing a murder case filed at a court in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
He said that Cranzo was also involved in a firefight against soldiers on June 19, 2025, in Barangay Datu Ito Andong, Kalamansig.
He said the police have listed Cranzo is the fourth most wanted person in Soccsksargen due to his cases.
Cranzo was placed under the custody of the police in Kalamansig town for further investigation, while Haydie and her child were brought to a hospital Lebak, Sultan Kudarat to ascertain their health condition. (SunStar Zamboanga)