CATBALOGAN CITY — The voluntary surrender of wo high-ranking leaders of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in Eastern Visayas is a significant development towards peace as it continues to weaken the CTG’s strength in the region, the Army’s 8th Infantry Division said on Tuesday, August 20.
Alias Leo/Omer/Lovely, the former Squad Leader of Squad 2, Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit (SRGU), and alias Mael, the former finance officer of P2, Front Committee 15 (dismantled), both from Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Arctic of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), surrendered to the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion (20IB) in Brgy. Dapdap, Las Navas, Northern Samar, on August 17, 2024.
A day earlier, August 16, alias Abner, a former member of Batakang Organisasyon sa Partido (BOP) and a resident of Silvino Lubos, Northern Samar, withdrew their support from the Communist Terrorist Group at 19th Infantry “Commando” Battalion (19IB) in Brgy. Opong, Catubig, Northern Samar.
Lt. Col. Richard Villaflor, commanding officer of the 20IB, said the surrender of these leaders is attributed to the focused military operations of the 20IB and the local peace engagement operation of the 803rd Infantry “Peacemakers” Brigade.
“Due to the continuous implementation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), actively supported by the local government units, stakeholders, and local chief executives in the area, the significant weakening of the CTG and their mass support is evident,” Lt. Col. Villaflor said.
From July 1, 2022, to August 9, 2024, a total of 94 CTG members were neutralized, 16 of them were high-value individuals and 14 key leaders have either surrendered, apprehended, or were killed in the ongoing military operations of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) throughout Eastern Visayas. The 8ID were also able to recover 148 high and low-powered firearms and seized 90 anti-personnel mines (APM).
Maj. Gen.Camilo Z. Ligayo, commander of the 8ID, said that these developments underscore the relentless efforts and commitment of the military and government to restore peace and security in the region.
“This demonstrates that the CTGs in the region are now leaderless and powerless. They continue to weaken and disintegrate as your Philippine Army persistently pursues them, ensuring that no one is left to bring violence to our communities,” Maj. Gen. Ligayo stressed.
