SOME 445 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have been “neutralized” by the military in the Davao region and nearby areas last year, the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID) reported yesterday.
Nineteen of the neutralized rebels were killed, 27 were captured while 399 surrendered, according to Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, spokesman of the Davao City-based 10th ID.
Tito said the 10th ID had 34 encounters with NPA rebels last year in its areas of responsibility (AOR) — Davao region and parts of Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen and Caraga
Twenty-eight of the neutralized rebels were “high-ranking” NPA leaders, including Maximo Catarata and Rosefel Movera, who both surrendered; and Leo Lacumbo, who was arrested.
Tito said 10th ID forces seized a total of 276 high-powered and 31 low-powered firearms during the period.
It said four NPA guerrilla fronts, four sub-regional committees, and three vertical units were also dismantled, leading to the declaration of the Davao region as insurgency-free last October.
Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, 10th ID commander, attributed the success of the fight against the insurgents to the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict which includes the military, other stakeholders, and the people of southern Mindanao.
