Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando, Pampanga- The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) announced that three former rebels yielded to authorities and ten supporters withdrew their support to the CTGs since August 6 to 9, 2024
PRO3 Regional Director PBGen Jose Hidalgo Jr. said that a 48-year-old former rebel surrendered to police authorities in Tarlac on August 7, 2024 identified only as “Ka Gerry,” where he voluntarily turned in a homemade Caliber .38 revolver with five live rounds of ammunition.
On August 6, a former member of the Underground Movement Organization (UGMO), linked with the Samahan ng mga Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Tabing Dagat, turned in an improvised firearm known as “Deposporo” and voluntary presented himself to authorities in Aurora.
On same date, a former member of the Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP Bataan-Zambales), under Ka Arlan Command, took an “Oath of Allegiance” to formally renounce insurgency.
The surrender was facilitated by the San Fernando City Police Station, 302nd Mobile Company, and other supporting units wherein he handed over a revolver, six live rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade, and detonating cords.
Relatedly, 10 Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid (LMB) members withdrew their support from the Alyansang Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) on August 9. The withdrawal occurred at the 2nd PMFC 3rd Forward Operation Base in Guimba, Nueva Ecija.
Additionally, on August 8, 2024, a joint operation led by the 91st Infantry Battalion, alongside the Aurora Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit (PECU), Police Intelligence Unit (PIU) Aurora, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) 3, and the Maria Aurora Municipal Police Station, successfully unearthed a hidden armaments cache believed to belong to Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) in Barangay Dikildit, Maria Aurora.
The operation resulted in the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and other items such as four(4) M76 grenade rifle rounds with bullet traps, one MK2 fragmentation hand grenade, six non-electric blasting caps, four sticks of dynamite, and various ammunition, including a magazine for an M16 rifle, empty shells, and live rounds for calibers .22, .45, and 5.56mm.
In addition to the weaponry, the excavation also revealed non-military items, including two pairs of black boots, a silver wristwatch, three black flashlights, a book titled “Promoting Indigenous Knowledge for Food Security,” and a tarpaulin bearing the logo of Katribu, an Indigenous people’s advocacy group.
“These coordinated efforts across various provinces in the region show the government’s commitment to fostering peace and encouraging former rebels to reintegrate into society, contributing to the broader goal of ending local communist armed conflict. Moreover, this discovery of armaments is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to weaken the operational capabilities of CTGs in the region. We continue to urge local communities to report any suspicious activities through hotline numbers 09175562597/09176235700 or to the nearest police station that may lead to the dismantling of insurgent operations and promote peace and security in Central Luzon,” Hidalgo said.
