REGIONAL military commanders declared the total collapse of the communist insurgency’s leadership structure in the Caraga region following the successive surrenders of four high-ranking and regular members of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
The capitulations, which took place between May 15 and May 16, 2026, across Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur, also led to the recovery of high-powered firearms and military equipment.
The dismantling of the remaining NEMRC elements unfolded over a 48-hour period:
- May 15 (Surigao del Sur): Joint operations targeting the Regional Operations Command (ROC) facilitated the surrender of Lovilito Lamela (alias “Bero/Hapon”) , a squad leader for the Regional Sentro De Grabidad, and Gina Sawan (alias “LG”) , a regional medical officer. The duo turned over an AK-47 rifle, a rifle grenade, three magazines, and a scope.
- May 15 (Agusan del Norte): Through civil-military operations, the 29th Infantry Battalion facilitated the separate surrender of Cheryl Tremidal Neniel (alias “Melon/Cry-Cry/Archie”) , a squad member of the Sub-Regional Sentro de Gravidad, at the military headquarters in Cabadbaran City.
- May 16 (Surigao del Sur): Following an armed encounter earlier in the week on May 11, Eusebio “Silvio” Gultiano Peru (alias Lee/Pitong/Tarzan/Carpo) voluntarily surrendered to authorities. Peru, a state-listed security member of the ROC, subsequently led troops to a concealed R4 assault rifle and ammunition in Marihatag.
Colonel Glenn Joy U. Aynera , acting commander of the 401st Infantry Brigade, characterized the development as the definitive end of the Communist Terrorist Group’s (CTG) organized presence in the area.
“These successive surrenders clearly indicate the final and eventual collapse of the CTG structure in Caraga,” Aynera said. “Through intensified security operations and the government’s reintegration programs, these remaining members realized that returning to the folds of the law is the better path.”
Major General Marion T. Angcao , commander of Joint Task Force Diamond, echoed this assessment, noting that sustained military pressure has triggered an “irreversible decline” for the decades-old regional committee.
The military confirmed that all four individuals will be processed to receive immediate necessities and will be enrolled in the government’s local integration and livelihood programs designed for former rebels.
