28 NPAs surrender en masse in Siaton

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 8): 28 NPAs surrender en masse in Siaton

Twenty-eight Yunit Militia and Party Branch members of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Sentral Bisayas surrendered en masse Friday to the 79th Infantry Battalion in Siaton, Negros Oriental.

This was followed by the dismantling of the KRSB barangay revolutionary structure in Brgy. Mantiquil, Siaton, Lt. Col. Marion Sison, 7th IB commander, said.

Of the 28 rebel returnees, nine are members of the Sangay sa Partido sa Localidad, led by Rosalie Nama alias Pops, and 19 are members of Yunit Militia of Lubos na Asosasyong Masa, Solid Mass Association, under Diosdado Nama, “alias Dondi,” Sison, in his report to Brig. Gen. Jonas Sumagaysay, 3rd Infantry Division general-officer-in-charge, said.

Sison added that the surrender of 28 personalities utilized for chores as underground informants, to instant and sometimes, untrained fill-up fighters for the NPA, was brought about by the information delivered by the Bayanihan Troops from issues previously exploited by the rebel group.

The 28 returnees decided to turn their backs on the YM after realizing that they have been fed with lies by the NPA leadership, he also said.

Sumagaysay said the snowballing of surrenders can also be attributed to social pressure generated by the civil society organizations, the local officials and other stakeholders, who have been persistent in calling for peace, coupled with sustained combat operations in the region.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/July/08/negor1.htm