A total of 133 members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) have surrendered to various police units in the Mimaropa region since the beginning of 2024, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4B on Thursday.

Mimaropa, consisting of the provinces Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan, has been a known operational hub for the CPP-NPA, with the latter often using the region’s rugged terrain to evade capture.

Of the 133 individuals who surrendered, ten were previously listed in the Periodic Status Report (PSR), which tracks key figures in the insurgent movement, while the rest were identified as members, supporters, and militiamen.

The latest to surrender include three former members of the dismantled Kilusang Larangan Guerilla-Mark Anthony Velasco (KLG-MAV) under Sub-Regional Military Area (SRMA)-4D. Known by their aliases “Ka Cente” (60 years old), “Ka Vensor” (58), and “Ka Dario” (33), they turned themselves in to the 403rd B MC Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro on January 20.

“This success highlights the unwavering collaboration between the PNP (Philippine National Police), AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), and partner agencies in our united effort to end local communist terrorism and achieve lasting peace in the region,” Brigadier General Roger Quesada, chief of PRO 4B, said in a press release.

He urged remaining rebels to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law.

Quesada also praised the collaborative efforts under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which has been pivotal in the government’s counter-insurgency strategy.

He reassured the public and potential returnees of the government’s commitment to providing livelihood and reintegration support to help former combatants transition back into civilian life.

Over the years, many rebels have opted to abandon the armed struggle in favor of peace and reintegration programs offered by the government.