NPA leader surrenders

CAMP MELCHOR DE LA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela, Philippines – A high-ranking member of the communist New People’s Army, who is among the top 15 in the military and police’s order of battle, surrendered to government officials in Abra on Friday, the Army here said. 

Major Gen. Nestor Ochoa, chief of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division based here, identified the rebel leader as one Corpuz Saboy or Ka Lander, who is said to be No. 11 in the military’s order of battle, being a top ranking officer of the NPA’s Abra based-Kilusang Larangang Gerilya -Northeast Luzon. 

Reports said that Saboy finally returned to the fold of the law following negotiations for his surrender, which was also facilitated by Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin.

Saboy, the highest ranking NPA leader to be taken into government custody since the arrest of suspected ranking NPA leaders Jovencio Balweg and his wife. He was then subjected to tactical interrogation by the joint police-military team.

Colonel Essel Soriano of the 503rd Infantry Brigade said Saboy’s surrender was only one of 12 rebels who had received financial assistance from the government immediately after their surrender. 

“Although the rebel surrendered directly to the police, we can still say that the Army played a big role in his surrender since we were responsible in creating the climate that made it ready for his surrender,” he said, adding that he and other returnees received financial aid from various branches of the government as part of its social action measures for the return of government rebels.

Saboy’s surrender came almost a week after five Apayao-based NPA militants, whom authorities said had been starving and restless of being with the underground movement, have also voluntarily returned to mainstream society.

The rebel returnees were identified as Leo Balungsat, alias Ka Dodo; Angelita Balungsat, alias aka Lina; Cariaga Tandi, alias Ka Nek; Felisima Tandi, alias aka Ely; and Orlando Anayhayon, alias Ka Demoy, who turned over themselves to the local government, Army and police authorities in Pudtol, Apayao on June 12. 

The returnees were formerly with the NPA’s Cagayan-Apayao Regional Operation Command. 

After Balweg Sr.’s capture, his wife Carmen and son-namesake Jovencio Jr., high-ranking NPA leaders in Abra also surrendered to policemen. A week after, the wife of Jovencio Jr., also an NPA leader in Abra gave up.   – With Artemio Dumlao

Another five NPA members reportedly surrendered to authorities after the Balwegs.

The deluge of the Balwegs maintained the Abra-based Agustin Begnalen Command of the CPP-NPA, however, “has little effect on the rebel movement.” More and more will join the NPA because the revolution is rife,” ABC Command spokesman Diego Wadagan said. – With Artemio Dumlao