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[av_heading heading=’‘NPA officer’ surrenders’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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January 14, 2018
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ILOILO City – A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) official has surrendered.
The 40-year-old Arsencio Magbanua turned himself in to the police station in Cuartero, Capiz.
Police identified Magbanua as a squad leader and platoon finance and logistics officer of the NPA’s Eastern Front Committee.
Ness Foyunan, barangay captain of Puti-an, Cuartero where Magbanua resides, accompanied the latter when he turned up at the municipal police station at around 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 11.
Magbanua left Capiz to join the rebel movement but returned to the province last year, provincial police director Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion said, citing initial investigation.
Magbanua did not have any firearm with him when he surrendered.
Police released him after interrogation. He did not have any pending warrant of arrest. “We had no basis to detain him,” said Nacion.
That an alleged high official of the NPA surrendered means the Philippine Army’s campaign against insurgency in Panay Island is gaining ground, according to Major General Pio Diñoso.
“This is a good start for the year. Nararamdaman na nila ang support ng mamamayan,” said the commander of the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade.
“Talagang na-convince na natin sila na dapat mag-surrender at bumalik sa gobyerno,” Diñoso added. “Walang patutunguhan ang kanilang ipinaglalaban.”
Brigadier General Dinoh Dolina, the new commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, has proclaimed that there will be no more rebels in Panay Island by the end of this year.
With President Rodrigo Duterte officially terminating the peace talks and declaring the NPA a terrorist organization, “we now have our marching orders to expedite the defeat of the communists by the end of 2018,” Dolina had said.
Last year, Undersecretary Eduardo Año also ordered forces under the Interior department to work harder in destroying the rebels./PN
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