BUTUAN CITY – Three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to the Army 3rd Special Forces (Arrowhead) Battalion (SFBn) in Barangay Saint Christine, Lianga, Surigao del Sur on Saturday, January 6.
Major Francisco P. Garello Jr., chief of the Public Affairs Office (PAO) of the Army 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (ID), said the rebel returnees belonged to the Sub-Regional Committee Southland of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
AN M16 Armalite rifle with an M203 grenade launcher was among the firearms turned over by three communist rebels who surrendered to the government in Surigao del Sur on Saturday, January 6. (Photo courtesy of 4th ID-PAO, 401st Brigade-CMO via Mike U. Crismundo)
Surrenderers turned over an AK-47 rifle, M16 Armalite rifle with an M203 grenade launcher, an Alisco M16 rifle, magazines, and bullets.
They are under debriefing and completing necessary documentation after which they will be enrolled in the E-CLIP or Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), said Major Alvin G. Nangkil, civil-military operations (CMO) officer of the Army 401st Infantry (Unite and Fight) Brigade.
Nangkil attributed their surrender to the relentless focused military operations (FMO) conducted by the Philippine Army and intelligence provided by residents.
Lt. Col. Paulo F. Baylon, commanding officer of the 3rd SFBn, commended their decision to return to the fold of the law and reassured them of their safety and well-being as they reunite with their families and start anew.
“Their going back to the fold of the government is a good move in this new year wherein they can already live with their respective families in peace and productive life in their respective communities,” Baylon said.
Brig. Gen. Francisco F. Lorenzo Jr., commanding general of the 401st Brigade, appealed to the remaining NPA in the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to surrender.
He promised them acceptance and support from the government through amnesty and NTF-ELCAC program.