2 NPA high ranking leaders, 4 members surrender in Surigao Sur
CARMEN, Surigao del Sur -- Two high-ranking Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) and four members recently surrendered in Surigao del Sur along with the 12 high powered firearms.
36th Infantry "Valor" Battalion led by Lt. Col. Vincent Viray identified the high-ranking CNT leaders namely, Joel Maca Mahinay alias Nicko/Manu, deputy secretary, and his wife named Linebeth Mahinay alias Dayding/Jeva, as finance/logistic officer of the weakened Guerilla Front 30 (WGF30), Sub-Regional Committee Westland (SRC WL) of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
The two high-ranking CNT officials surrendered along with their four members to the troops of the 36th Infantry "Valor" Battalion, under the 901st Infantry Brigade of the 4th Infantry Diamond Division, Philippine Army, as follows:
1. Mandy
Trinidad Juagpao alias Reyan, medic of Platoon 1;
2. Jonmar Bagnol Mahinay alias Ching, team leader, Squad 1 of Platoon 1;
3. Joseph Montenegro alias Jomar, member and
4. Eloy Juagpao Suazo, member.
According to Lt. Col. Viray, the CTG members surrendered 12 firearms including three M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, four CZ858 rifles, one M4 carbine rifle, one bushmaster rifle, one grenade launcher, other items such as 16 rifle magazines, hundreds of ammunition, and bandoliers.
In an interview with alias Nicko on May 1, he admitted that the relentless operations pushed by the government forces, following the withdrawal of support from the masses, weakened the strength of the terrorist group due to hunger.
Viray said, “The decision made by alias Nicko and his wife alias Dayding to surrender, being the last remaining prominent leaders, proved the continuous CTG decline which marked the end of WG30.”
Meanwhile, in two months, a total of 10 CTGs surrendered to 36IB, adding the four CTGs surrenderers on March 9, 2024. (NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)
