3 NPA rebels surrender in Iligan City hinterland

CHECKPOINT.  Members of the Iligan City Police Office and the 51st Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army,
intensify their checkpoints after the encounter between government troops and the New People's Army in
Barangay Mainit, Iligan City, Tuesday morning (January 15). (Photo by Divina Suson)

ILIGAN CITY - One active member and two NPA militias have surrendered to the military's 51st Infantry Battalion, in the hinterland barangay of Rogongon, Iligan City, Saturday.


The three also yielded two caliber pistols and ammunition to the troops of Lieutenant Colonel Jasper Edward Obar, the battalion commander.

"Based on our initial custodial debriefing, they are pressured by our troops who were relentless in combatting the communists NPA terrorists in the hinterlands of Iligan City," Obar said.

Meanwhile, some 100 families fled their residences in Sitio Bukana, Barangay Mainit, also a hinterland barangay of Iligan City, after members of the Philippine Army under the Bravo Company of the 51st Infantry Battalion clashed with the fleeing members of the New People's Army (NPA) on Tuesday morning.

Brig. Gen. Thomas Sedano, commander of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade (2MIB), however, said that some families returned after the 45-minute firefight.

"We advised them not to go down to Iligan City proper.  We ensured them of their safety.  We have driven the NPA away from the residential area.  We put primacy on the safety of civilians during combat operations," Sedano said.

The village of Mainit is about 30 kms. away from Iligan City proper, and near the boundary of Manticao town of the province of Misamis Oriental.




Reports from the 2MIB said government troops were conducting combat clearing operations when they encountered some 30 NPA members at about 7 a.m.

While there was no casualty on the side of the Philippine Army, Sedano said there were reports saying some rebels were wounded.

"Residents in the area reported that they saw some wounded armed men being carried by their comrades as they withdrew," he said.  "We continue pursuing them until they will surrender and or be driven from the residential area."

The skirmish prompted the Iligan City Police Office, in coordination with the military, to heighten their security measures, especially in checkpoint areas.

Meanwhile, Major General Roseller Murillo, 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, commended the efforts of the troops that lead to the surrender of the rebels.

"We encourage more NPAs to surrender and take advantage of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Inegration Program (E-CLIP) of the government," Murillo added. [Merlyn Manos, GMA News and Divina Suson, PNA]