• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Eight members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island have surrendered to the military and police recently.
On Dec. 27, seven communist rebels yielded to the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, a day after the 55th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Lt. Col. William Pesase Jr., 62IB commanding officer, said the former rebels surrendered three firearms and took their oath of allegiance to the Philippine government before Mayor Filomeno Reyes.
The ceremony held at Barangay Poblacion was witnessed by military officials led by Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, and Lt. Col. Romeo Cubo, who represented the Philippine National Police.
The surrenderers each received food packs and fertilizers from the City Social Welfare and Development Office and Office of the City Agriculturist, respectively.
Their documents are being processed for them to avail of benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
In a statement, Edralin said he appreciates the courage of the seven former rebels to abandon the armed struggle, attributing the development to the collaboration among the members of Guihulngan City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Meanwhile, a former member of the dismantled Northern Negros Front also gave himself up to the police’s 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company in Barangay Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.
Alias “Jun-Jun” surrendered a caliber .38 revolver with ammunition, a 40mm grenade explosive, and a blasting cap to the authorities. | GB
