BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Eight New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to government forces in Barangay Poblacion, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental over the weekend.
The group consisted of a regular NPA member and seven belonging to the rebel movement’s “Yunit Militia.”
They were “Ka RR”, Squad 1 member, Sentro de Grabidad (SDG) Platoon, Central Negros 1 operating under the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor of the Leonardo Panaligan Command-NPA; and Yunit Militia members Romeo Barbaquil alias “Ka Sammy”, Allan Alpas Estrada, Marlou E. Estrada, Reynaldo B. Delantes, Mariano Libaton alias “Ka Moloy”, Arlita Jabalde, and Bernaldo Besario, alias “Ka Bobby”.
According to the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB), the rebels surrendered on Sunday to the Guihulngan City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC).
They also turned over their firearms – two .38-caliber revolvers, two .357-caliber gun and assorted ammunition.
Mayor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes of Guihulngan City said that since August 42 NPAs have surrendered.
Of the total number, eight were regular NPA members, nine belonging to the Yunit Militia and 25 supporters. At least seven firearms were also surrendered to the authorities.
Army officials believed the mass surrenders in Negros was due to the hardships encountered by the insurgents in the mountains brought by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Flores, 62IB acting commanding officer, said this was the outcome of proper information provided to the people and the collaboration among Guihulngan TF-ELCAC members./PN
