PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — A ranking New People’s Army (NPA) rebel surrendered to military authorities in the nearby town of Guipos, this province, an official announced Thursday.
Maj. Richard Enciso, information officer of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, identified the NPA surrenderee as Ka Jaypee, the logistics officer of Team Baking, Section Committee-Kara of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.
Enciso said Jaypee surrendered to Lt. Col. Virgilio Hamos, Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion commander, in camp Sabido, Guipos town.
He said Jaypee turned over an AK-47 assault rifle with several rounds of ammunition.
Jaypee, whose real name was withheld for security reasons, said physical hardship and hunger brought about by limited food supply were among the reasons why he decided to surrender.
He also said love and responsibility was more important to him as a family man than risking his life in the mountains fighting for a cause with no clear direction.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, 1st Infantry Division commander, has called on the other NPA rebels in the region to follow the footstep of Jaypee.
“Return to normal lives and contribute to building a peaceful and sustainable nation,” he added. (Hirohito Cadion/PNA)
