ILOILO City – Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered separately to the Philippine Army in the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
On Nov. 4, a young Negrense woman, who became a Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebel when she was only 18, turned herself in to 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) in Barangay Sangke in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.
Now 22, Jenny de la Cruz, also known as “Kim”, “Sweet”, “Ken” and “Kian”, also yielded a .357-caliber revolver and six live bullets – some six months after three of her former comrades, the ones who recruited her, surrendered also to the 15IB based in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
According to the 15IB, de la Cruz, who joined the communist-terrorist group in 2016, was a former leader of Squad 2, Sentro de Grabidad of CPP-NPA’s South West Front.
The group operates in the areas of Hinoba-an, part of towns of Ilog and Candoni in Negros Occidental as well as Basay town and part of Bayawan City in Negros Oriental.
Colonel Leonardo Peña, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, which supervises the 15IB, commended the troops for assisting de la Cruz in her surrender and for their commitment in deradicalizing the NPA-influenced far-flung communities in Negros.
On Nov. 7, a 29-year-old communist insurgent who was only identified as a certain “Jun” also surrendered to the 61st Infantry Battalion in Miag-ao, Iloilo.
He was a member of the NPA’s Igabon Platoon, Central Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay.
June told the Army troops that he decided to leave the communist armed movement because he can no longer endure the extreme hunger and hardship inside the armed group.
Jun also surrendered his firearms with ammunition and magazines.
Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, commanding officer, 61IB was thankful that Jun returned to the folds of the law.
“We are winning and gaining peace in our area of responsibility. We thank Jun for going back to the folds of the law and eventually decided to be our partner for peace and development,” Batara said.
He also called on the remaining NPA members in the mountains live a normal life with their families, friends and be a productive member of the community.
According to Batara, Jun will be granted benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. (With a report from PNA/PN)
