13 NPA rebels surrender

Thirteen members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have surrendered due to continuing military offensives, an Army official said.

Col. Bagnus Gaerlan, Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the NPA rebels surrendered on Thursday to the troops of the 53rd Infantry Battalion in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

They belonged to the NPA’s Section Committee “Kara” and “security elements” of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) operating in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Gaerlan said they turned over three firearms that included a caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle, one Carbine rifle, and a caliber .45 pistol.

Lt. Col. Marlowe Patria, 53rd Infantry Battalion commander, said one of them, whom he only identified as Ka Eric, disclosed that they decided to give up because the rebel movement broke its promise to support their families.

Ka Eric, according to Patria, cited other reasons such as constant physical, mental and emotional weariness as well as hunger due to almost endless movement that they had to endure to evade military troops. They also felt disillusioned and just want to give their children a brighter future, the military official added.

Patria said some rebels were enticed to surrender after hearing on a local radio station about the military-led peace fellowship featuring former rebels and their families.

In the program, military officials and the former rebels discussed the government’s implementation of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).”

Patria assured the surrederers they will facilitate their enrollment to the E-CLIP of the government.