BACOLOD City – A total of 25 New People’s Army (NPA) members surrendered to the military and police authorities in Negros Occidental.
The rebels – operating in Murcia, Don Salvador Benedicto and San Carlos City – turned themselves in on Saturday after months of localized peace talks.
They also turned over their firearms and took an oath of allegiance to the Philippine government in a ceremony held at the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) headquarters in Barangay Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
The firearms included three M16 rifles, four Garand rifles, one M14 rifle, four shotguns, one .22-caliber Magnum rifle, one .38-caliber revolver, 12 .45-caliber pistols, two .9mm submachine guns, 14 assorted rifle and pistol magazines, and two shotgun bandoleers.
“The combined efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and concerned local government units encouraged these NPA rebels to take allegiance to the government,” said Lieutenant Colonel Emilito Thaddeus Logan on Sunday.
Barangay officials also played an important part in urging the rebels to give up violence, Logan added.
Personnel from the Department of Interior and Local Government and officers of the 79IB will enroll the former rebels to the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
Through the program, a former rebel can receive immediate assistance worth P15,000, livelihood assistance worth P50,000, and firearms remuneration worth P12,000 to P500,000.
They can also avail themselves of half-way house services, PhilHealth enrolment and medical assistance, education assistance, housing assistance, legal assistance, and reconciliation services. (With a report from PNA/PN)
