By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An alleged leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in northern Negros surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) at Barangay Bato in Negros Occidental’s Sagay City on Sunday, March 17.

Authorities identified the now-former rebel as “Ka Dose,” a vice squad leader and intelligence officer of the dismantled NPA’s Northern Negros Front (NNF).

According to information from the 79IB, the former rebel was involved in several clashes with law enforcement, particularly the encounter at Sitio Icugan in Calatrava town’s Barangay Minapasuk on August 9, 2023, wherein a police officer was killed, while two others were wounded.

Ka Dose was also involved in several other incidents in the town.

The Army reported that Ka Dose was the closest cohort of notorious NPA leader Arnel Tapang.

Lt. Colonel Arnel Calaogan, 79IB commander, said in a statement that the surrenderer will be treated well, and his rights will be respected in line with their standard operating procedures.

Calaogan said the latest surrender is a clear manifestation of the growing frustration within NPA-NNF’s “rotten situation,” following the series of encounters in neighboring Escalante City last month./DGB, WDJ