BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Sixteen New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to the Philippine Army in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte said the 16 belonged to the NPA’s Central Negros 1 of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (KR-NCBS) under the Leonardo Panaligan Command.
They surrendered to the Guihulngan City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (GCTF-ELCAC) in coordination with the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion based in the town of Isabela, Negros Occidental and the Guihulngan City Police Station.
Among the surrenderees included three ranking NPA officials, a platoon leader, a vice platoon leader, and a political guide.
According to Pasaporte, the surrenderees claimed they got “sick and tired” of the NPA’s false promises, as well as the constant hunger and difficulties encounter due to the Army’s intensified military operations.
The 16 surrenderees attended a ceremony on Tuesday; they renounced the NPA and took an “oath to peace.”
They also offered a prayer and lit candles for the victims of NPA atrocities, and burned an NPA flag.
Following the activities, the GCTF-ELCAC provided the former rebels aid to help them start anew.
Among the aid were 25 heads of goat and 25 sacks of fertilizer, as well as boxes of hygiene kits and assorted ready-to-wear clothes.
The former rebels are also expected to receive additional aid through the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) following the facilitation of the necessary requirements for enrollment./PN
