BUTUAN CITY — Government forces scored another significant victory against the remnants of the communist insurgency in Northern Mindanao after a high-ranking team leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the Philippine Army on January 13, 2025.
In a report released from Camp Romualdo C. Rubi in Butuan City, military officials confirmed that Jessryl Bacyano, also known by the aliases “Digos” and “Amas,” voluntarily yielded to the 23rd Infantry Battalion under the operational control of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, Joint Task Force Diamond.
Bacyano was identified as the Team Leader of Squad 1, MTJ Eagles, SRC1, operating under the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee of the New People’s Army. His surrender is being viewed by the military as a major turning point in the campaign to declare Misamis Oriental insurgency-free.
Brigadier General Adolfo B. Espuelas Jr., commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, credited the success to the sustained implementation of the government’s “Whole-of-Nation” approach. He said the surrender was the result of relentless military operations that restricted insurgent movements, intensified community-based dialogues that weakened local support for rebel groups, and strong inter-agency coordination involving local government units and law enforcement agencies.
Lieutenant Colonel Glennford Libre, commanding officer of the 23rd Infantry Battalion, personally welcomed Bacyano and reiterated the Army’s call for remaining rebels to return to peaceful civilian life. “This surrender is a clear indicator that the CTG’s influence in Misamis Oriental is crumbling,” Libre said. “Mr. Bacyano’s decision to lay down his arms reflects a growing realization that the armed struggle is a lost cause. Our mission is not only to defeat an enemy, but to win back our brothers and sisters and guide them toward peace and productive citizenship.”
Military officials said Bacyano is currently undergoing documentation and debriefing procedures and will be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a government initiative that provides former rebels with financial assistance, livelihood support, skills training, and psychosocial services to help them reintegrate into society.
Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Diamond, under the leadership of Major General Michelle Anayron Jr., renewed its appeal to remaining members of the Communist Terrorist Group to seize the opportunity to surrender. Military leaders stressed that the government remains committed to offering a fresh start for those who choose peace over continued armed conflict.