Military says NPA platoon leader, medic wife surrender

PAGADIAN CITY—The military said a couple, who hold key posts in the New People’s Army in the Zamboanga Peninsula, has surrendered.

Lt. Col. Manaros Boransing, commander of the Army’s 97th Infantry Battalion, identified the couple only as alias Peewee and alias Ritche.

The husband, according to Boransing, is commander of the NPA’s strike platoon that operates mainly in Zamboanga del Norte, while the wife is in charge of training guerrilla medics.

Boranding added that the NPA unit also crosses into Zamboanga del Sur to enforce “extortion demands” which the rebels brand as revolutionary tax.

Boransing said the husband was wounded in the shoulder in a 15-minute gunfight at the village of Tinuyop in Leon Postigo town, Zamboanga del Norte on Thursday (Aug. 6).

On the same day, the couple sent surrender feelers, the military said.

On Wednesday (Aug. 5), an 18-year-old NPA fighter was wounded in a clash and surrendered also in Leon Postigo town. He was identified only as alias Jekjek.

The guerrillas were brought to the Army’s 1st Infantry Division headquarters and confined in its station hospital.

Also on Thursday, 52 former guerrillas joined an orientation program by the Department of Social Welfare and Development on how they can benefit from government programs that will help them restart a life in mainstream society.

Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, commander of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion, said relentless military operations should be combined with delivery of basic services to the communities to cement the gains against the insurgents.

TSB