6 NPA supporters yield in Isabela; grenades, ammos seized
The rebels, aged 18 to 23, surrendered to the Philippine Army (PA) 98th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio Nursery, Barangay Disulap, here.
Three are currently studying in college while the three others stopped schooling.
They turned over to the military two homemade shotguns and ammunition which were left to them by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA in 2018.
They later led the soldiers to the location where the explosives and ammunition were buried in Sitio Nursery.
The Army dug up 205 rifle grenades and 48 rounds ammunition for M1 Garand rifle.
“Retain pa rin ang content ng grenades so puwede pa gamitin as Improvised Explosive Device (IED) (The rifle grenades have retained their content and still can be used as Improvised Explosive Device (IED),” said Major Jekyll Julian D. Dulawan, chief of the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of the Army 5th Infantry Division (ID).
Also recovered were 134 Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon-Cagayan Valley (DAGAMI) flyers and several other pamphlets and books.
Major Gen. Laurence E. Mina, commander of the 5th ID, welcomed the surrender of the six young rebel supporters.
“Maraming kabataang umanib sa CPP-NPA ang nasawi sa mga pakikipagdigma laban sa pamahalaan. Mga kinabukasang nasayang dahil sa maling ideyolohiya. Marami sa kanila ay tulad ng mga kabataang sumuko sa 98th IB. Mabuti na lamang at sila’y nagbalik loob at nagkaroon ng oportunidad na magsimulang muli. Aalalayan natin sila sa kanilang pagbabagong buhay (Many youths have joined and died fighting for the CPP-NPA. They lost their future to wrong ideology. Many of them are like those who surrendered to the 98th IB. It is good that they have returned to the fold of the law and will have the opportunity to live a new life. We will assist them),” said Mina.