- GILBERT BAYORAN
A member of the New People’s Army, allegedly involved in a series of encounters with government soldiers in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion and turned over two M16 assault rifles with 11 magazines containing ammunition.
Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander, said that the rebel, known only as Ka Jan Jan, was tasked to secure the firearms of eight comrades, who were injured in gunbattles with soldiers in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
Ka Jan Jan surrendered to the 94IB on Oct. 19, as the last batch of displaced residents from the series of clashes went home after the Philippine Army declared “cleared” their respective communities.
Almonte said that Ka Jan Jan was separated from his group while escaping the pursuing Army soldiers.
He added that extreme fatigue, hunger, and confusion may have driven Ka Jan Jan to surrender.
Almonte called on the NPA remnants to follow what Ka Jan Jan did, before it will be too late for them to do so.
“Our door is always open,” he stressed.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, lauded the boldness of alias Jan-Jan in returning to the fold of the law despite the promises and propaganda inculcated in him by the CPP-NPA./GB
