ILOILO CITY — Seven members of the New People’s Army and 52 members of the Militia ng Bayan under the East Front Committee, Komiteng Rehiyon Panay, have abandoned the rebel movement and surrendered to the government, a Philippine Army official said Tuesday.
Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, said a mass surrender ceremony was held in the village of Poblacion, Cuartero town in Capiz province on Monday, where the surrenderers took their oath of allegiance and pledged loyalty to the government.
In an interview, Arevalo said the surrender would weaken the rebel group’s strength, particularly in the areas of Cuartero and Dumarao in Capiz.
He said the seven NPA members were red fighters or squad members, while the Militia ng Bayan is a force multiplier whose members sometimes act as part-time fighters or provide the regular members additional manpower, information, food and other logistics.
Arevalo said the surrenderers brought with them 14 firearms — a US M1 Garrand rifle, a US caliber .45 pistol, 10 locally-made shotguns, and two caliber .38 pistols – as well as a hand grenade and various live ammunitions.
He said they surrendered because they are already tired of the barbarism of their organization, which brought them nothing but hunger. “They want to have a normal life,” he said.
Arevalo also recognized the efforts of the troops of the 61st Infantry Battalion and the help of the local government of Cuartero for all the negotiations they did in the past months.
The military is currently processing the assistance that will be given to the rebel returnees under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“They will be receiving cash assistance and livelihood assistance within the end of this month or early next month,” he said, noting that additional cash will be given to them for their firearms they yielded.
Arevalo, meanwhile, urged other members of the rebel group who want to surrender to freely coordinate with their detachments or local government units. “We will help you,” he assured.
He, however, warned those who refuse to surrender that they will be hunted down, with the full force of the law and military might to neutralize them. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
