Borongan City — Seven active combatants of the New People's Army surrendered to the government after they were convinced by their respective families to give up the communist armed struggle.

Lt. Col. Allan Tria, commander of the 78th Infantry Battalion, said the seven guerilla fighters of the Apoy Platoon, the Sub-Regional Committee, and Sesame surrendered to his unit this week.

Tria withheld giving the names of the NPA members pending completion of security protocols, but said they include the squad leader, vice squad leader, finance, and medical officers.

The former rebels also revealed the location of an arms cache consisting of two M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, one M653 carbine, and other war materiel in the hinterlands of Borongan City. These were recovered last 19 October.

Tria said the surrender of the former communist combatants was an offshoot of their continuous engagement with the families of active NPA members. Since 19 September, a total of 15 former NPA members have surrendered.

Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, thanked the families of the surrendered rebels for their efforts in convincing their loved ones to abandon the armed struggle and return to their respective families.

"We are grateful for the positive response of our Waraynon brothers and sisters to working hard to convince their family members who are still with the NPA. We have once again proven that the love of family conquers the hate that the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF sowed in the hearts of their recruits," he said.

Vestuir reiterated his plea to the remaining NPA members in Samar and Eastern Samar provinces to heed the collective call of their families and their fellow Waraynons for them to go back to the mainstream of our society away from danger or harm.