BUTUAN CITY: A top official of the Sub-Regional Committee Northland under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee of the New People's Army (NPA) surrendered to the headquarters of the Army's 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) in Surigao del Norte, the Army said Thursday. In a statement, the Army's 901st Brigade (901Bde) said NPA regional secretary Juanita Leyson turned herself in at the unit's headquarters in Barangay Mahanub, Gigaquit town, on Monday. Leyson brought with her three other comrades- Rajem Pertos, Jezalyn Platil, and Pegi Diaz. 'Her decision to surrender will cut off the group's extortion activities in Surigao del Norte and neighboring provinces and weaken the financial backbone of the communist terrorist group in the region to fund its criminal operations,' Brig. Gen. Arsenio Sadural, 901Bde commander, was quoted as saying. During the surrender, Leyson and her group handed over a bushmaster rifle, an AR-15 rifle, more than 1,000 rounds of assorted ammunition, bulletproof vests and other w ar materiel. Saural said Leyson's surrender was a "crucial step" to achieving lasting peace and prosperity in Caraga. Earlier this week, the Army's 4th Infantry Division said the NPA rebels in Caraga suffered a huge setback with the surrender of 14 combatants and in the early part of March. Source: Philippines News Agency