Claveria, Misamis Oriental — September 2, 2025 — In a significant step toward peace and stability in Northern Mindanao, four members of the Regional Sentro de Grabidad-Compaq (RSDG-COMPAQ) under the Northern Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) voluntarily surrendered to the 58th Infantry “Dimalulupig” Battalion in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.
The surrender was formalized before Lieutenant Colonel Leoncito I. Grezula Jr., Battalion Commander of the 58th IB. All four individuals were listed in the Periodic Status Report (PSR) and were identified as active members of the armed group.
One of the surrenderees, who served as a Political Officer, revealed that they were abandoned by their comrades after a series of clashes triggered by focused military operations (FMO) jointly conducted by the 402nd and 403rd Infantry Brigades. He said their group left them with no option but to escape and seek safe passage for surrender.
The 58th Infantry Battalion commended the decision of the former rebels, emphasizing that their return to mainstream society is a step toward healing, peace, and progress—not only for themselves but also for the communities long affected by armed conflict.
Lt. Col. Grezula assured the group of humane treatment and government assistance through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). He also expressed sympathy for the hardships they endured, noting that the loss of comrades during military encounters played a major role in their decision to surrender.
Brigadier General Adolfo B. Espuelas Jr., Commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, lauded the efforts of the 58th IB and praised the surrenderees for their courageous choice. “This act of surrender is not a sign of weakness, but a strong testament of your desire for change and a better future,” he said.
The four former rebels are now undergoing stress debriefing and validation interviews to verify their identities and prepare them for enrollment in government reintegration programs in line with Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach to ending local communist armed conflict.