ILIGAN CITY -- Tired of being on the run, two young New People's Army rebels surrendered to the military in Maitum, Sarangani on Monday, Dec. 5.
Joint Task Force Central commander Major Gen. Roy Galido said the surrenderers are aged 17 and 20 and from the Far South Mindanao Regional Committee.
They turned over their firearms to Lt. Col. Rey Rico, commanding officer of the 34th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Michael Angelo Candole, commanding officer of the 38th Infantry Battalion, and the municipal police.
The surrenderers were presented to the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) led by Mayor Alexander Bryan Reganit on Monday.
Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, acting commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said the military anticipates a surge in the number of NPA rebels surrendering in the coming days as peace efforts are intensified.