Leader of NPA remnants in Leyte surrenders to Army’s 19th IB

By MAJOR OTHELO D. YAÑEZ, (FA) PA
February 7, 2008

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City  –  Continuous pressure is being experienced by the CPP/NPA in Leyte as it’s leadership has been effectively decimated.  Many of its key leaders and members voluntarily surrendered and chose to live normal lives within the folds of the law. This trend was established through the successful internal security campaign of the 19th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.

On February 4, 2008 at about 5:30 o’clock in the afternoon, Jessie Payod alias Nabil, Team Leader, Squad “Abe”, “Buhawi” Platoon, Mount Amandewin Command, North Leyte Front (NLF), voluntarily surrendered to 19IB and 802nd Brigade. A little later after he submitted himself to the unit, the alias Nabil openly revealed himself as the one who was tasked by the NLF Committee to safe keep some of the NPA’s high-powered firearms in the hinterlands of Albuera, Leyte. He likewise indicated that he himself is willing to pinpoint the exact location of the NPA arms cache. Reacting to the said revelations, Col. Raoul Reyes, Commander of 802nd Brigade, directed LtC. Henry M. Bumiltac, CO of 19IB, to send a Reaction Force to locate the arms cache. The latter then sent one (1) platoon led by 2Lt. Jose Laurel M. Sibullas (INF) PA to Barangay Talisayan, Albuera, Leyte to locate the said arms cache. With the help of the alias Nabil, the operating troops found the arms cache, and recovered five (5) M16 Armalite Rifles bearing serial numbers: RP 118828, RP 207467, RP 3401432, RP 114585 and RP 104856; eleven (11) long and twelve (12) short magazines for M16 rifle with four hundred seventy four (474) rounds of caliber 5,56mm ammunition for M16 rifle; one (1) Rifle Grenade: and one (1) Fragmentary Grenade.

According to the NPA leader, the recovered firearms and the other items belonged to their former leaders and fighters who either died in armed engagements; or deserted due to hardships and distrust within their organization; or lied-low for some other reasons.

Earlier on February 1, 2008, base on a tip-off information from a disgruntled former Communist Terrorist (CT) member, 19IB also conducted a raid in Brgy. Caghalo, Carigara, Leyte and confiscated a Garand and a Springfield Rifles, three (3) caliber .22 revolvers and assorted ammunitions for M14 and M16 rifles.

LtC. Bumiltac says that most of the remaining leaders and members of the NLF are now contemplating to return to the folds of the law due to various factors. The sincerity of the government in providing livelihood assistance projects, livelihood training, and cash rewards for those NPAs who surrender with high-powered firearms has improved many lives and reunited many broken families.

Bumiltac further reports that life in area has significantly improved in terms of peace and security since the NLF was effectively decimated late last year.

Col. Reyes asserts that the decline of the NPA movement in Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran could be attributed to the relentless efforts of the Brigade in protecting the cleared barangays from being re-infiltrated by the insurgents. REYES claims that the sustained establishment of Integrated Community Safety System in its barangay would effectively harden each community against the CPP/NPA.