Surigao del sur: Four New People's Army rebels -- three officials and a member -- surrendered to different units of the Philippine Army's 401st Infantry Brigade (401Bde) over the weekend. In a statement Sunday, the Army said a series of surrenders took place in the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte on May 15 and 16.
According to Philippines News Agency, joint operations conducted by the 75th Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Special Forces Battalion on May 15 resulted in the surrender of two officials of the Regional Sentro De Grabidad of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) of the NPA. The officials were identified as Lovilito Lamela, alias "Bero" or "Hapon", the squad leader, and Gina Sawan, alias "LG", the medical officer of the same unit. During the surrender, they handed over one AK-47 rifle, one rifle grenade, one scope, and three AK-47 rifle magazines.
On May 16, Eusebio Gultiano Peru, also known as Lee/Pitong/Tarzan/Carpo, surrendered in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur. Peru led the government troops to an area in Barangay Bayan of the same town to recover his concealed R4 rifle with one magazine loaded with six rounds of ammunition.
Additionally, on May 15, a member of Squad 2, Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad Westland of NEMRC, identified as Cheryl Tremidal Neniel, alias Melon, surrendered to the troops in Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
Col. Glenn Joy Aynera, the acting commander of 401Bde, stated, "These successive surrenders clearly indicate the final and eventual collapse of the Communist Terrorist Group structure in the Caraga Region."
