Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz – A Recruiter of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) voluntarily surrendered to the La Castellana Local Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (LTF-ELCAC), Army’s 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion, and the Philippine National Police at La Castellana Municipal Police Station, Feria Street, Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental..
The surrenderee was identified as Lourdes Tino Baloy, 71, a resident of Brgy. Linantoyan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental. She yielded to the authorities at around 03:40 p.m just the other day.
Baloy was a chairman of Panaghiusa sa Mag-uuma sa Barangay Linatoyan (PAMABALI Association) under Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). Likewise, she is a recruiter of Central Negros 1 (CN 1) Front under Leonardo Panaligan Command.
She is the wife of Dionesio Gutang Baloy, one of the cadavers recovered during the three-minute armed encounter between the troops of the 62IB and members of the CTG at around 6:45 a.m. on January 17, 2024, at Hda. Gomez, Brgy. Sag-ang, in La Castellana.
In his message, MGen Marion R Sison, the 3ID Commander, lauded the bravery and commitment of Lourdes Baloy for withdrawing her support from the CTG and finally deciding to return to the folds of the law after years of hiding from the authorities.
Also, he emphasized the persistent focused military operations (FMOs) of the Division and the declining support of the people as significant factors affecting the decision of Baloy and other NPA terrorists to surrender.
“We are expecting influx of surrenders as more CPP-NPA terrorists realize the futility of the armed struggle, in which their cause and ideology now turn into banditry and terrorism. Additionally, our relentless focused military operations have rendered them weary, and the dwindling popular support has denied them much needed refuge and sustenance,” MGen Sison concluded.