Map of Masbate province (Google image) LEGAZPI CITY - A total of 12 New People's Army (NPA) rebels voluntarily surrendered on Tuesday and were welcomed by police and military authorities in Mandaon town in Masbate province, a police report said. Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, Police Regional Office-Bicol (PRO-5) regional director, said two of the surrenders were allegedly NPA commanders operating in Masbate. "The surrenderers were identified only as alias 'Rembo', a platoon commander of the communist movement Sentro De Grabidad while 10 of his companions were members of the Larangan Central, KP4-Masbate, Bicol Regional Party Committee led by Ka Luding Tolingin alias Ka Dady, and the other surrenderer, alias Ka Victor (is) member of Larangan 1 Guerrilla Front under Eddie Rosero's 'Ka Star' command," Estomo said. A ceremony to receive the surrenderers was held in Barangay San Juan on Tuesday morning, coinciding with the 53rd founding anniversary of the NPA. D
SECURITY forces have captured the highest leader of the New People’s Army in Bukidnon, prompting military officials to declare that the communist-inspired insurgency in the province could be on the verge of being wiped out. In Masbate, policemen serving a warrant of arrest also killed five rebels during a firefight,…