GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A medical officer of the New People’s Army surrendered to the military in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato on Sunday, May 21.
Major Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, said the surrenderer alias “Jean” yielded to the 5th Special Forces Battalion under Lt. Col. Caryleo Nagac who welcomed her to the fold of the law after serving as medical officer of the NPA for about six years.
She turned over an NPA-issued M-16 Armalite rifle.
Jean thanked personnel of the 5th Special Forces Battalion for their humane treatment that prompted her to surrender.
The rebel returnee said she opted to surrender after realizing that she was misled by the NPA to rebel against the government as a means to achieve economic and political liberation.
“I came to realize that the military is really advocating for peace and reconciliation in dealing with former rebels,” she said.
Rillera called on the remaining NPA rebels to follow the footsteps of Jean who abandoned the communist armed struggle and returned to mainstream society.