TACLOBAN CITY – Following the death of their squad leader in an encounter this week, a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to government forces in barangay Domrog, General MacArthur, Eastern Samar on Saturday (July 27).
Lando Yape alias “Rose,” a member of the recently dismantled “Apoy” Platoon, voluntarily submitted himself to the troops of the 78th Infantry Battalion (78IB) following the death of their leader Joel Gaurino alias “Duran” on Thursday. Yape brought along with him two M16 rifles, 10 magazines, 284 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bugaoan, commander of 78IB, said that Yape belonged to the group of Gaurino but he was able to escape the firefight in the hinterlands of General MacArthur. He eventually made contact with his family which arranged his surrender.
Yape claimed that remaining in the NPA proved to be futile when his leader was already gone because their group has no more direction. “The pressure of the government operations and the depressive conditions inside the movement after the recent encounter last Thursday were too much to bear,” Yabe said.
Bugaoan attributed his surrender to the relentless follow-on and pursuit operations coupled with the Peace and Development activities of the army. He added that it was also made possible by the E-FReE Families program, or the Enhanced Friend Rescued Engagement through their Families program of the Brigade, which enabled the family of Yape to seek military help.
To recall, FReE Families program was launched in the last quarter last year to counteract the hate spread by the NPA propagandists and address the danger and anxiety faced by the families of NPA members. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, the Brigade Commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade (802IBde), expects that more NPA members will soon give up the armed struggle. “They have been demoralized after the successive encounter and death of their leaders and members. We won’t stop until it is done,” Vestuir warned. By Marie Tonette Marticio (EV Mail July 29-August , 2024 issue)
