Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar- An NPA collector, Samuelito Arquion of Brgy Quezon, Ormoc City voluntarily surrendered with his firearms, One (1) M16 with defaced serial number and One (1) shotgun with three (3) live ammunition to the operating elements of the 19^th Infantry (COMMANDO) Battalion under Lt Col Lope Dagoy stationed at Brgy Aguiting, Kananga, Leyte on February 05, 2007, at around 6:00 o’clock in the evening.

Feeling the heat of the intensified and relentless conduct of Internal Security Operations in Ormoc City and Leyte Province, Samuelito Arquion, an active member and designated as collector of the New Peoples Army operating in the hinter barangays of Ormoc City came down to surrender to the military Monday evening. He revealed the NPA in the area now highly mobile, over fatigue and stressful while suffering from shortage of food and supplies since collection of their extortion activities are being hampered due to the sustain operations conducted by the 19^th Infantry Battalion. He stressed that the NPAs operating in the Leyte area were on total disarray caused by leadership crisis as a result of the capture and neutralization of their key leaders.

MGen Armando L Cunanan, Commanding General of 8^th Infantry Division commended the valuable efforts of the troops involved in the operations. He urged the people to be vigilant and encourage them to give timely and valuable information to the authorities for the immediate action against the atrocities that are being committed by these lawless elements.

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Contact: Maj Felix M Mangyao (INF) PA