Zamboanga City (22 August) -- Two top members of the CPP/NPA hierarchy in Western Mindanao surrendered to the Commanding General of the First Infantry Division on August 19, 2007.

Major General Nehemias G. Pajarito, Commanding General of the 1st Infantry "TABAK" Division, Philippine Army identified those who surrendered as : Antonio Roda aka Doroy, 38 years old and Head of the Regional Medical Staff; Eric Buhian aka Nelboy, 22 years old, who is also a member of the Medical Staff, including one wounded comrade - - Richard Dumandos aka Leo who is only 17 years old.

The surrender, which took place as a result of a filler between Doroy and an emissary who facilitated the negotiation for their surrender, also led to the recovery of medical and dental equipment amounting to more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000).

The recovered medical/dental equipment include stethoscopes, sphygmomanometer, sets of Larynxnguscope, a resuscitator, an electric drill, several Trunction sets, sets of Nevy Retractors, Laparotomy packs, as well as voluminous subversive documents.

Doroy, Nelboy and Leo narrated their hardships in the underground movement which prompted them to return to the fold of the law. The 17-year old Leo, a recruited minor operating in the Zamboanga Peninsula, suffered a bullet wound on his left leg while undergoing NPA training in the municipality of Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur.

Leo is now under treatment and in stable condition with the military's timely medical assistance and said that he could have suffered worse problems, while Doroy and Nelboy opted to stay with the military for protection.

Major General Nehemias G. Pajarito commended the units who facilitated the negotiation and surrender of Doroy who has been active in the NPA movement for 19 years.

Their surrender has caused a major setback to the Western Mindanao underground movement as we see that they are losing their most trusted and capable comrades who suffered disillusionment and useless hardship in the underground movement.