Communist leader surrenders

BAGUIO CITY – If it were a genuine surrender, the giving up of a rebel leader's arms to military intelligence operatives in Cagayan yesterday morning is expected to cause a major setback for the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Nueva Ecija.

Loreto S. Guieb who used Rodel, Onie and Eden as aliases, purportedly the deputy secretary of the Kilusang Larangan Gerilya/Front 2, Nueva Ecija Provincial Committee (NEPCOM) surrendered yesterday in Barangay Linao, Aparri, Cagayan. The rebel, a native of Barangay Culaylay, San Jose City, was a platoon leader and intelligence officer of the said rebel unit, according to Maj. Gen. Romeo Dominguez, commander of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM).

Reports reaching Baguio City from the Tarlac-based NOLCOM said Military Intelligence Group 2 & 3 operatives worked for the surrender of Guieb who was on lie-low status since November.

The NPA leader reportedly was disgusted with CPP policies, unending party squabbles specially on financial matters and the realization that rebels no longer have mass base support made him decide to leave the underground movement.

Dominguez said he is optimistic that government troops will further cripple the terrorist groups operating not only in Nueva Ecija but the whole of Central and Northern Luzon as a result of successful military operations. He said he is happy that the rebel groups responsible for the attack of the Globe Telecom cellsite in Barangay Sto. Rosario Old, Zaragosa last month are charged in court. Ka Adrian, team leader of the NPA’s Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda and five other members of the Tarlac Provincial Party Committee are named as respondents. – With Benjie Villa