CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Five members of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Northern Mindanao have surrendered to authorities during a joint operation conducted by the 1st Special Forces Battalion (1SFBn) of the Philippine Army and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion Region 10 of the Philippine National Police on June 5, 2025.
The surrender took place under the jurisdiction of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division (4ID) at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City.
Lieutenant Colonel Emilio T. Bautista, Commanding Officer of the 1SFBn, confirmed that among the surrenderers was a liaison and communications staff member, while the others were regular fighters. They also turned over an M16 rifle and an M203 grenade launcher.
According to the surrenderers, extreme exhaustion, persistent hunger, and fear for their safety drove them to abandon the armed struggle, particularly as the military ramps up its pursuit operations against NPA remnants in the region.
Major General Michele B. Anayron Jr., Commander of the 4ID, lauded the decision of the former rebels, describing their surrender as a significant step toward achieving lasting peace.
“This development is a clear manifestation of the unwavering efforts of the government to finally end local communist armed conflict and make former foes into friends,” said Anayron. “We acknowledge the bravery of these surrenderers to lay down their arms and work hand in hand with us to end insurgency. This is a positive step towards achieving our goal.”
However, he also reaffirmed the military’s commitment to neutralizing remaining NPA elements. “We want to reiterate that we will remain resolute in eliminating the threat posed by the NPA through hunting down those remnants who still fight against us in the mountains and conduct harassments to our peace-loving communities,” he added.
The military continues to encourage other NPA members to avail themselves of the government’s reintegration programs and return to a peaceful civilian life.