NPA rebel surrenders

From the Sun Star-Davao (Nov 16): NPA rebel surrenders

A MEMBER of the New People's Army (NPA) surrendered to Task Force Davao (TFD) Sunday, claiming that hard life in the revolutionary movement forced him to do so.The rebel surrenderee was identified as Rodolfo Velos Lugas alias "Bunso", 29, an alleged member of the NPA under the 1st Pulang Bagani Command-Southern Mindanao Region Command (PBC1-SMRC). Lugas is a resident of Barangay Pandaitan, Paquibato District, Davao City, where he also used to operate. Lugas first turned himself in to the local officials of Paquibato District, and was then endorsed to TFD last Sunday.TFD executive officer Lt. Col. Gerry Besana said Lugas confessed that he joined the revolutionary movement last April. He claimed to be part of two separate encounters against the 10th Infantry Division's Bagani Long Range Platoon (BLRP) last September and October at in Km. 26 and Sitio Alon, Malabog District, respectively. Lugas also admitted to having witness different crimes committed by the NPA rebels against the military and civilians in Paquibato. The spokesperson for the 10th Infantry Division, Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, said Lugas may shed some information with regards to the operations of the NPA and the crimes that they have committed. "Hindi ko pa alam kung gaano kalalim ang involvement niya sa kilusan kaya hindi pa pwede mag-speculate kung ano ang mga krimeng nagawa ng NPA. Depende na siguro yan sa information na ibibigay niya (I still don't know how deep is his involvement to the rebel movement so it's still early to speculate what crimes the NPAs committed. It all depends on the imformation we can get from him)," Paniza said. TFD commander Col. Marcos Norman Flores, in an interview with Sun.Star Davao, said: "It's a welcome development. I always admire such decision by any rebel to go back to the folds of the law. It means that he is aware of his senses and he cares for his future and his family."Flores also assured that Lugas will receive help from the local government."We will make sure that he will receive financial support from the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP)," he said. CLIP is part of the Internal Peace and Security Plan-Bayanihan, which aims to provide livelihood opportunities and other development programs for rebel returnees.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2012/11/16/npa-rebel-surrenders-253519