TACLOBAN CITY – Poverty and hunger prompted seven members of the New People’s Army to surrender to the Joint AFP-PNP Local Peace Engagement Plan in Northern Samar.
They also cited the NPA’s inability to sustain the needs of their families (SUPAMIL) due to the stoppage of support from their mass base at their cleared Konsolidado, Kinokonsolida, Expansion, and Recovery (KKER) barangays.
The former guerillas recalled the hardship they have experienced due to the relentless combat operations by government forces.
The surrenderers are members of the Front Committees 1 and 2 and the Sub-Regional Guerilla Unit (SRGU) all of the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Emporium Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).
They include a 16-year-old male from San Isidro, Northern Samar and a 60-year-old male from Calbayog City, also in Samar.
The surrenderers turned over two caliber 5.56 M653 rifles, a caliber .45 pistol, three caliber .38 pistols, a customized shotgun, a bandolier, six magazines for M16, magazines, and other equipment.
The surrender was fast-tracked through the implementation of the Local Peace Engagement Plan (Track 2) to neutralize targeted NPA members.
The AFP and PNP are interviewing the surrenderers to uncover the Periodic Status Report (PSR) factors and other immediate actionable information.
The surrendered items were temporarily deposited at the 43rd Infantry Battalion for safekeeping.