CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — A 64-year-old former New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla has laid down his arms and returned to civilian life in Nueva Ecija, citing a longing for peace and a better future for his family, according to police reports on Wednesday.

The former rebel, identified only as “Ka Bal,” surrendered to authorities on 18 November in a joint operation involving multiple police units and military intelligence, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) disclosed.

Ka Bal, a farmer from Barangay Kita-kita in San Jose City, served as a “Pulang Mandirigma” under the Arcadio Peralta Command, operating in parts of Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.

“Life in the mountains was hard, full of hardship and uncertainty,” Ka Bal told police during debriefing. “I realized it was time to come home, to live a peaceful life with my family.”

Upon his surrender, Ka Bal turned over a homemade 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition. He is expected to receive assistance, including cash incentives and livelihood support, through the government’s Enhanced Community Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

Police Col. Heryl Bruno, the Nueva Ecija provincial director, welcomed the surrender as a step toward achieving an insurgency-free province.

“We welcome Ka Bal back to society and commend his courage in choosing the path of peace,” Bruno said. “This shows that our efforts to reach out to rebels and offer them a chance to rebuild their lives are bearing fruit.”