A FORMER high-ranking leader of the communist movement in Caraga Region has surrendered to government forces in Surigao del Sur, according to the 4th Infantry Division.
According to the report of the 4th Infantry Division, Elena Estaniel Rambuyon, 56, alias Sandara, former Secretary of the dismantled North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), voluntarily turned herself in on July 24, 2026.
The surrender took place at the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) Headquarters in Barangay Saint Christine, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, before joint personnel of the 3SFBn—under the 401st Infantry Brigade—and the Philippine National Police.
BGEN Benjamin L. Leander, commander of the 401st Infantry Brigade, disclosed that Rambuyon had been lying low since November 2025 before her formal surrender to authorities.
“She decided to surrender due to fear for her safety and the relentless, focused military operations conducted by government forces, which significantly restricted the movement and capabilities of the remaining members,” Leander said.
Leander noted that her surrender further underscores the group’s waning influence and complete loss of strategic footing in eastern Mindanao.
Major General Marion T. Angcao, commander of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), welcomed the surrender, emphasizing that the capitulation of a top regional cadre confirms the total dismantling of the NEMRC network.
“The surrender of a former top-ranking NEMRC official is another testament to the successful dismantling of the NEMRC, which paved the way for the declaration of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) throughout the entire Caraga Region,” Angcao said.
Angcao added that the 4ID will continue sustaining focused military operations alongside local government units to safeguard peace and development across Caraga.
