AMPATUAN, Maguindanao — Tired of hiding from pursuing government troops and empty promises of their supposed leaders, seven communist New Peoples’ Army (NPA) guerillas surrendered Tuesday to the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (MIB) based here.
Lt. Col. Lauro Oliveros, 1st MIB commanding officer, said the surrenderees belonged to Platoon My Phone of the NPA Guerilla Front 73 Far South Mindanao Regional Committee, operating in the hinterlands of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.
The rebels turned over firearms and explosives composed of two M-14 rifle, M-16 rifle, two M1 Garand rifles, one homemade M-16 sniper rifle, one Springfield rifle, a .38-caliber revolver, a hand grenade, and one improvised explosive device with wire and triggering device.
Oliveros said the surrenderees decided to return to the folds of the law due to hardship they experienced in hiding in the mountainous area of Sultan Kudarat while evading government troops.
They also realized promises of their communist leaders were all false.
“The surrenderees were also convinced by their relatives and other former rebels who benefited from the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program or CLIP and live a peaceful and secured life,” he added.
The former rebels will be turned over to proper authorities after they will be formally presented to Esperanza Mayor Helen Latog, and Sultan Kudarat Governor Sultan Pax Mangudadatu.
From there, they will undergo the reintegration process including livelihood seminars that will prepare them to start new life as law-abiding citizens.
Maj. General Arnel B. Dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division commander, appealed to remaining NPA rebels in the mountains to surrender, as this will bring progress in their communities. Dela Vega lauded the rebel returnees for realizing the benefits of returning to the mainstream society and live peacefully in their community. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
