Alleged NPA leader in Ilocos region surrenders to authorities

February 21, 2020

An alleged top ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines' New People's Army operating in the province of Ilocos Sur surrendered to government forces on Tuesday, a military spokesman said Friday.

Maj. Amado Gutierrez, spokesman of the 7th Infantry Division, said Evaristo Boquing Jr., the secretary of Platoon-South Ilocos Sur (SIS) from 2014 to 2018, gave himself up to authorities.

"Boquing is among the senior adviser of the Communist Terrorist Group in Region 1 and its adjacent provinces," he said.

Gutierrez said "with his voluntary surrender facilitated by the local peace panel, Boquing will receive benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government."

"With the help of the local peace panel, Boquing was encouraged to return to the folds of the law and grabbed his second chance in living a peaceful life away from the maoist ideology," he said.

"He (Boquing) decided to surrender to the mayor of Salcedo, Ilocos Sur which is the head of the local peace panel," he added.

Gutierrez said based on the record, Boquing was involved in various terroristic activities, including armed encounter, ambush and harassment against government forces, arson against Candon Bus lines in 2013 and harrasment against Phillip Morris Co. in 2011. Robina Asido/DMS