MANILA - A total of 53 members of allied groups of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) have surrendered to authorities in Nueva Ecija, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday night.

Of the figure, 13 were members of the Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid and Alyansang Mangbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon under the Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, who surrendered to authorities on February 20, PNP Chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, said in a statement.

Their surrender was facilitated by the 2nd Police Mobile Field Company, with other police units and concerned agencies.

Among the surrenderers was a member of the Milisya ng Bayan identified as "Ka Aladin" who also turned in a caliber .38 revolver without serial number and a converted caliber .22 rifle.

Meanwhile, 40 members of a left-leaning organization under a certain Nicomedez Ortiz, alias "Dagohoy", surrendered to joint elements of the Aliaga Municipal Police and the Philippine Army's 84th Infantry Battalion on February 21.

Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon) Director, Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, said the relentless efforts of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) have contributed to the continuous surrender of more active and former members of communist groups, as well as the withdrawal of support of their sympathizers and supporters.

Carlos lauded the police officers and the surrenderers who openly denounced the communist movement as they expressed their oath of allegiance to the government.

He likewise assured the surrenderers of the government's assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as "an integral and inseparable part" of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)