BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A self-confessed team leader of the Regional Strike Force (RSF) of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor surrendered to the 16th Scout Ranger Company in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday, and brought with him two high-powered firearms with ammunition.
Col. Leonardo Peña, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, identified the rebel returnee as Jerry Gargoles, 21, aka Sargent and Angel, an RSF Squad 1 team leader, who yielded a .45 caliber Colt pistol with a magazine containing seven ammunition, a KG-9 9mm caliber pistol with a magazine containing 21 ammunition, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
Peña said he welcomed the decision of Gargoles to abandon the armed struggle, when he realized that his life in the communist movement will just go astray.
“This is a clear manifestation that members of the CPP-NPA are losing their will to fight and their confidence in the movement because of falsehearted ideology,” he added. Peña also encouraged the NPA remnants to heed the call of the government for peace, stressing that they will continue with their relentless efforts to hunt communists.*
