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John Unson - Philstar.com
January 30, 2026 | 6:44pm
A leader of an indigenous tribe inspects the firearms surrendered by the 98 New People's Army guerillas who returned to the fold of law during a surrender rite in Talaingod, Davao del Norte on Tuesday, January 27, 2026,
Philstar.com / John Unson
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A large group of New People’s Army guerillas, mostly from indigenous communities, together pledged allegiance to the government on Tuesday, January 27, and promised to help the police and the Army’s 10th Infantry Division maintain law and order in their hometowns.
Radio reports on Friday stated that the 92 NPAs first turned in their firearms before they renounced their membership with the group during a symbolic rite at Barangay Santo Niño in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte, in the presence of Mayor Junnie Libayao, leaders of the ethnic tribes in the municipality and Gov. Edwin Jubahib.
Major Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, told reporters on Friday that the group, comprised of guerillas and supporters who provided them sanctuary in hinterlands, agreed to surrender and avail of the government’s reconciliation program for communist insurgents when they learned that their companions, who had yielded ahead to different units of the 10th ID, had been reintegrated into mainstream society.
Officials of the Eastern Mindanao Command, which has jurisdiction over the 10th ID, said the group agreed to return to the fold of law through the joint intercession of Luzon, Brig. Gen. Christopher Diaz of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, officials of the 60th Infantry Battalion, local executives in Talaingod and Jubahib, who, as governor, is chairperson of the multi-sector Davao del Norte Provincial Peace and Order Council.
Tuesday’s symbolic rite in Barangay Santo Niño in Talaingod was preceded by the visit the day before to the 10th ID’s headquarters in Mawab, Davao de Oro of the commander of EastMinCom, Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, where he lauded officials of the division and its units for their peacebuilding efforts that have restored normalcy in many areas where NPA guerillas once operated with impunity.
Orio, while at 10th ID’s headquarters, was briefed by Luzon on their accomplishments in implementing the Philippine Army’s anti-insurgency efforts in the provinces and cities under the jurisdiction of the division.
Units of 10th ID and local executives have jointly secured the surrender of more than 2,000 NPAs since 2018, according to local executives in the adjoining Davao De Oro and Davao del Norte provinces.
