LEGAZPI CITY - Another member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) surrendered to police authorities in Cataingan, Masbate on Friday. Maj. Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) spokesperson, identified the surrenderer as "Ka Ruben", 41, of Cataingan town. "He is an active member of the Larangan 2 (L2), Komiteng Probinsya 4 (KP4) Bicol Regional Party Committee (BRPC) under Rogelio Suson @ "Ka Manong" command, appeared and voluntarily surrendered to the operatives of Masbate 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company," she said in a statement. She said the successful surrender was a result of the series of negotiations conducted by the unit consistent with Executive Order (EO) No. 70. EO 70, signed in December 2018, aims to "provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the whole-of-nation approach to aid in the realization of collective aspirations for inclusive and sustainable p
(Google map of Placer, Masbate province) LEGAZPI CITY - Four New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an armed encounter with government troops in the boundaries of the towns of Esperanza and Placer in Masbate province on Friday morning. Major John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, said in a statement that concerned citizens reported the presence of NPA guerillas in their area prompting soldiers of 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) under the 903rd Infantry Brigade and supported by Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct security operation. The government troops encountered at least 20 NPA members at the boundary of Barangay Baras, Esperanza, and Barangay Manlut-od, Placer. "The intense firefight between the two forces lasted for an hour resulting in the killing of the still-unidentified NPA members and capture of one R4 rifle, two M16 rifles, two M653 rifles, one Garand rifle, two rifle grenades, one hand grenade, anti-personnel mines, and terroristic propa