ARMY operating troops of the 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB) and 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) under the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) facilitated the surrender of two Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) leaders and other six members with 13 high-powered firearms on April 26 and 30, 2024 in Surigao del Sur.
The two high-ranking CTG leaders were Joel Maca Mahinay, the Deputy Secretary, and his wife, Linebeth Mahinay, the Finance/Logistic Officer, of the weakened Guerilla Front 30 (WGF30), Sub-Regional Committee Westland (SRC WL) of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Other six CPP-NPA members also surrendered to the government troops and brought along a total of 13 high-powered firearms: four CZ858 rifles, three M16A1 rifles, one M653 rifle, two M14 rifles, one M4 Carbine rifle, one Bushmaster rifle, one Grenade Launcher, and other war materiel such as bandoliers, ammunitions and various magazines.
The Army leadership lauded 36IB and 3SFBn troopers for facilitating the voluntary surrender of the former CNT leaders and members, who has chosen a path of reconciliation and contributed to the broader efforts of achieving lasting peace in the region.
Meanwhile, the 4ID leadership called on the CNT remnants to lay down their arms and join the journey towards stability and progress in Surigao del Sur.
