NPA ‘leader’ surrenders in Calatrava

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) capitulated to the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) at their base in Sagay City, Negros Occidental last Sunday.

The individual, purportedly a squad leader or intelligence officer for Squad 1 under the now-defunct Northern Negros Front (NNF-D), engaged in hostilities with law enforcement in Barangay Minapasuk, Calatrava in the previous year.

This surrender is the latest in a series of concentrated military actions by the 79th IB, in partnership with the Escalante City Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (CTF-ELCAC), an initiative headed by Mayor Melecio Yap Jr.

Their persistent appeal to the remaining members of the NNF-D to surrender follows a recent clash in Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, which resulted in three alleged NPA combatants’ deaths.

Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Calaogan, commanding officer of the 79th IB, confirmed the ex-rebel will undergo processing in accordance with military standards and utmost integrity.

The 79th IB assures adherence to established legal protocols in handling the surrendered individual, Calaogan emphasized.

The 79th IB also noted the individual was part of the “Ariel Remal Tingpong” unit, a segment previously identified with a bounty due to its involvement in multiple killings in Calatrava.

Calaogan underscored the surrender as a testament to the military’s effective strategy, persuading NPA members to renounce their insurgency and abide by the law.

In his statement, Calaogan reiterated the battalion’s dedication to the safety of Negros residents, with the ultimate objective of achieving a declared state of Stable Internal Peace and Security for the province.