By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Two alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were arrested in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, while another surrendered to the military troopers in Tayasan, Negros Oriental last week.
On November 19, personnel of the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) arrested the two suspected rebels at Sitio Basak, Barangay Buenavista after the unit’s Community Support Team (CSP) received a report that there were two armed individuals who were forcing residents in a nearby village to give food for the NPAs.
The CSP Team immediately conducted a combat patrol and was able to capture a 41-year-old man and a 26-year-old man who were allegedly members of Sentro De Gravidad (SDG) Platoon of the NPA.
According to the Army, both were reportedly armed with shotguns, a hand grenade, and assorted ammunition.
Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Guzman, 94th IB commander thanked the community for providing timely information, which led to their capture. “With tips from the communities, the SDG days are numbered,” he said.
Both suspects were turned over to Himamaylan City Police Station for custody.
Meanwhile, the unit also reported the surrender of a 46-year-old rebel at Sitio Bulabog, Barangag Tanlad on November 17 who also turned over a .45 caliber pistol to the soldiers.
Prior to his surrender, he was reportedly an active member of the rebel’s Regional Strike Force (RSF), the Army said.
During the custodial debriefing, he said that he was a member of the group that harassed the 94th IB Community Support Program (CSP) team in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City on November 11, 2020, the Army said.
Guzman lauded the rebel returnee for choosing the right path.
