More than a hundred more members of the now weakened New People’s Army surrendered to a military unit in Quezon town in Bukidnon on Friday, August 8.

Major Gen Allan Hambala, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, told reporters on Monday that the 189 NPAs surrendered through the joint intercession of local executives, officials of the 89th Infantry Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Antonio Bulao, and their superiors in the 1003rd Infantry Brigade.

Hambala said leaders of indigenous groups, local executives and officials of different police units helped Bulao and his subordinate-officers secure the surrender of the 189 NPAs from across Quezon and nearby towns in Bukidnon province, which is under Administrative Region 10.

The 189 NPAs renounced their membership with the group in the presence of municipal and provincial officials and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri during a symbolic rite at Barangay Butong in Quezon. Zubiri hails from one of the towns in the highland Bukidnon province.

Hambala said the group that surrendered first turned in 72 assorted firearms, including assault rifles, shotguns and pistols, improvised explosive devices and 40 millimeter grenade projectiles and fragmentation grenades before they pledged allegiance to the government at a public gymnasium in Barangay Butong.

Units of the 10th ID deployed in provinces and cities in Regions 10, 11 and 13 had secured the surrender of more than 600 NPAs since 2023.

Photo shows Army officials inspecting the firearms surrendered by the 189 NPA members who had returned to the fold of law. (August 11, 2025, Bukidnon Province, Region 10)