BUTUAN CITY — The last remaining active member of a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) operating in Agusan del Norte has surrendered to government forces, marking a decisive breakthrough in the province’s long-running anti-insurgency campaign and signaling the effective dismantling of organized armed resistance in the area.
Authorities identified the surrenderer as Jerry Marapao Deligero, also known as “Adao-Adao,” a member of the Sub-Regional Committee 1 under the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee. His capitulation was facilitated through sustained operations and community engagement efforts by the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion of the Philippine Army, in close coordination with the provincial government of Agusan del Norte and the local government of Buenavista.
Deligero turned over a cache of firearms and war materiel, including one M16A1 rifle, one M653 rifle, four magazines loaded with a total of 60 rounds of live ammunition, and a rifle grenade—further weakening what remained of the group’s operational capability.
Military officials described the surrender as a “critical milestone,” effectively declaring the province free from active CTG fighters. The development underscores years of intensified military operations, intelligence-driven campaigns, and localized peace-building initiatives aimed at dismantling insurgent networks in Northern Mindanao.
In his initial debriefing, Deligero revealed that worsening conditions within the armed group pushed him to abandon the struggle. He cited hunger, severe hardship, and physical exhaustion as primary reasons for his decision.
He also admitted that learning about the government’s reintegration programs played a crucial role in influencing his surrender. According to him, the promise of financial assistance, livelihood support, and a chance to rebuild his life outside armed conflict offered a viable alternative to the increasingly bleak situation within the insurgency.
More telling, however, was his acknowledgment of the group’s steady decline.
He said he had personally witnessed the weakening structure of their organization, leading him to conclude that sustaining armed struggle was no longer feasible. This realization, he added, ultimately convinced him to lay down his arms and choose a path toward peace.
Lieutenant Colonel Glennford C. Libre, commanding officer of the 23rd Infantry Battalion, reiterated the government’s firm stance in ending insurgency across the country.
“The government remains steadfast in its commitment to end insurgency so that all Filipinos can live peacefully and uphold our democracy,” Libre said. “The 23IB stands ready to welcome and support our fellow Filipinos who choose to return to the fold of the law and start anew.”
Deligero is set to be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a government initiative that provides former rebels with financial aid, livelihood training, and other support services to facilitate their reintegration into mainstream society.
Local officials hailed the surrender as a testament to the effectiveness of a whole-of-nation approach—combining military pressure with social intervention programs—in addressing the root causes of insurgency.
With no active CTG members now reported in Agusan del Norte, authorities expressed optimism that the province can finally move forward toward sustained peace and development, free from the shadow of armed conflict.