BACOLOD CITY -- Fifteen New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to the authorities at the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) headquarters in Barangay Tambo, Ayungon, Negros Oriental on Saturday, Feb. 18.
According to the police, the rebel returnees were members of Sentro De Gabridad (SDG) Platoon of Central Negros (CN) 2 Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor (KR-NCBS).
The rebels also turned over an M14 rifle, two .38 caliber revolvers, a homemade shotgun, and a rifle grenade to the Army and the police.
They are now under the custody of the 94th IB for safekeeping.
Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) launched a Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) project dubbed ‘AMUMA sa Barangay – Community Managed Savings and Credit Associations (COMSCA)’ held at the gymnasium of Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental on Thursday, Feb. 15.
The community development strategy project aims to assist vulnerable families in all End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) target areas, as well as build the economic resilience and financial literacy of households through the mobilization of self-help mechanisms for saving services.
The target villages of the said project are the first 10 ELCAC barangays in the cities of Guihulngan and Canlaon, according to the Army.