FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – A total of 459 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and supporters voluntarily surrendered to the military in Central Luzon and are now ready to reintegrate back to mainstream society.

Col. Andrew Costelo, commander of the Army’s 703rd Brigade, said the mass surrender of NPA happened in a span of two weeks through the efforts of the 48th Infantry Battalion, 69th IB, 84th IB, and the 91st IB.

“From November 6 to 19, 81 NPA members, 19 Militia ng Bayan members and 359 NPA supporters yielded to the government,” said Costelo.

“This was made possible through the full support and cooperation of local government units, national government agencies and the residents of Central Luzon,” he added.

Costelo said that he ordered his battalion commanders to continue to collaborate with concerned government agencies and other civil society organizations for the necessary interventions, privileges and other assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program to be given to the surrenderers.

He cited the effectiveness of Executive Order 70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in defeating insurgency.

“We are grateful that our government came up with EO 70, which is the whole-of-nation approach to end insurgency in our country,” said Castelo.

“We can say that EO 70 is very much effective that our misguided fellow countrymen were enlightened and finally decided to lay down their arms and abandon their armed struggle because of the hardships and difficulties that they have experienced while in the underground movement,” he declared.

Costelo said that the NPA surrerderers can now start a new life and be part of the mainstream society.

“With their decision to return back to the folds of the law, they could at last enjoy a life free from fear and hiding. We will help them achieve that full kind of life,” Costelo added.

For his part, 7th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Lenard Agustin called on other NPA rebels to follow the example of the 459 surrenderers.

“I am urging all the remaining members of the NPA, their underground movement and their supporters to return to the folds of the law and in response, we will do our duty to facilitate their return to the mainstream society and have peaceful lives. In doing so, they would contribute in attaining peace and development in Region 3,” Agustin said.