MANILA — Highlighting the “massive demoralization” hitting the ranks of the New People’s Army (NPA), another five rebels voluntarily surrendered to civilian authorities in Pampanga on Thursday.
First Lt. Catherine Hapin, 7th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the five, who are part of the NPA group operating in Arayat, Pampanga, have voluntarily surrendered to Sta. Ana Mayor Norberto Gambao at about 12 noon Thursday.
The five also handed to authorities one improvised shotgun, along with a 9-mm. and three .30-caliber pistols.
Hapin said the 48th Infantry Battalion and the Pampanga Police and Gambao facilitated the surrender of the five communist rebels.
They will be later presented to Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda for documentation and giving of incentives, she added.
“They will be assessed for the Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which gives benefits comprisingfinancial assistance, livelihood training, aside from the firearms remuneration,” Hapin said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier announced that a total of 2,263 NPA members and their supporters have voluntarily surrendered to government forces in the first two months of 2018.
“As of March 4, 2018, a total of 607 regular members of the NPA had yielded to government authorities while the remaining 1,656 surrenderers are categorized into Militia ng Bayan, Underground Mass Organization members and mass supporters,” the AFP said in a statement. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
