CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Five members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the Marines during the Holy Week in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, the military here said Monday.
Maj. General Arnel dela Vega, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and head of the military’s Joint Task Force Central, said the rebels, obviously tired of hiding in the mountains and avoiding pursuing government forces, decided to surrender to the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 in Barangay Keytodac, Lebak.
The former rebels, who belonged to NPA Guerilla Front 73, were presented to Lt. Colonel Jose Marie Santos, MBLT-2 commander and Lebak Mayor Deonesio Besana in ceremonies held at the town’s covered court last March 29.
Santos identified the returnees as Ariel Udas Apang, 29; Iyoy Lebeg Nayam, 31; Nicanor Nayam Apang, 38; Ariel Matog Apang, 36; all of Barangay Keytodac, Lebak; and Uwi Sulay Kulam, 38, of Barangay Sabanal, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.
Apang claimed the rebel leaders promised them to recover their ancestral lands taken by settlers but such assurance was never realized.
He also grieved over the death of some members of the Dulangan-Manobo tribes people, who were executed when they refused to harass fellow indigenous people.
Apang’s group turned over a caliber .30 M1 Carbine rifle, a 9mm improvised Uzi, a fragmentation hand grenade, and two improvised explosive devices.
Dela Vega lauded the Marines and the Lebak local government officials for their efforts to convince communist rebels to surrender than seeing these fighters killed during military operations.
He urged other local executives to use their power to influence the rebels that re-joining the mainstream is still the best option for them than fight the government forces. (PNA)
