NPA leader in Leyte surrendered

By 1Lt DENNIS C. ALMORATO, (INF) PA
December 3, 2007

AGUITING, Kananga, Leyte  –  The 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade, Philippine Army and 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion battered anew the beleaguered and waning Northern Leyte Front (NLF), EVRPC in its intensified campaign against the communist terrorists (CTs) in Leyte. At about 6:00 o’clock in the morning on November 30, 2007, CTL Edwin Commendador y Pepito alias Wendyl/Delfin, a resident of Brgy. Tag-abaca, Leyte, Leyte, the Team Leader of Squad Abe, PBEC Nepal, Mt. Amandewin Command, NLF, voluntarily surrendered with three (3) serviceable M16 Armalite Rifles to the operating troops of  Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion, 8th Infantry Division led by 2Lt. Rod Vincent F. Babiera (INF) PA at vicinity Sitio Cabariwan, Barangay Tapol, Leyte, Leyte. He was brought immediately to the Battalion Headquarters for documentation and proper disposition.

LtC. Henry M. Bumiltac INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 19IB said that Wendyl/Delfin can no longer bear the hardships that their group, which is now down to about thirty-eight (38) due to severe demoralization and desertion, is experiencing in the face of the tactical operations and massive information drive/awareness seminar that the Commando Troopers are conducting. He adds further that this is aggravated by the fact that their remaining ranking cadres/leaders can still afford to engage in sexual opportunism and other misconduct against their female comrades including a minor who was impregnated by a cadre despite their difficulty. Disgruntled by these realities, he decided to surrender and guide the operating troops towards a firearms cache hidden at a secluded place in Barangay Tapol, Leyte.

LtC. Bumiltac added that this development is consistent with our assessment that the remaining CTs operating in the 3rd District of Leyte are becoming more and more isolated from their own guerrilla bases as their red fighters and mass supporters have started to go back to the folds of the law disgruntled by the atrocities the CTs are committing even against their own comrades.

Col. Raoul J. Reyes FA (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 802nd Brigade, 8ID said that the surrender of the NPA regular fighter in the 3rd Congressional District of Leyte, considered as the last bastion of NLF, is a result of the intensive internal security operations backed by a massive peace and development advocacy Campaign of the unit.  In fact, the Communist Terrorist were made aware of the CPP/NPA /NDF methodology of arousing, organizing, and mobilizing the uneducated and poor farmers with the end in view of “creating rift between the farmers and government”, and not for the good of the people. This is part of the NPA’s effort to attain its ultimate objective to seize political power and establish a Communist Government.

Again, LtC. Bumiltac emphasized that this latest tactical victory against the CTs is a proof of the efficacy of the peoples’ support in the campaign against the insurgents. “We are getting effective in keeping their world smaller each day till they find no way out, but to surrender” he said. This is in line with the purpose of the unit to totally dismantle the NLF before the end of this year.