8 rebels surrender guns

From the Visayan Daily Star (Oct 7): 8 rebels surrender guns

Eight members of the New People’s Army Yunit Militia gave themselves up to the Army’ 11thInfantry Battalion in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental recently, and surrendered 13 firearms, the military said.

Lt. Col. WilfredoIsaac, 11th IB commander, who withheld the identities of the eight rebels for security reasons, said 13 firearms, including seven 357 magnum revolvers, a .45 caliber pistol, .38 caliber revolver, four shotguns, 41 live ammunition and three magazines of .45 caliber pistols, were surrendered to Alpha Company headed by 1Lt. Chino Cornelio on Oct. 3 and 4.

Isaac said the eight rebels claimed to be part of the “intelligence network” of the NPA in Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, and supported the rebel group with logistical requirements and financial needs.

Their surrender came several days after a rebel amazon, whose identity is also being withheld by the military, surrendered M-16 and M-14 rifles to the 11thInfantry Battalion. Under the AFP Guns for Peace Program, she received P90,500 cash in exchange for the high-powered firearms she surrendered.

1LT. Von Ryan Gomez, 11IB Civil Military Operations Officer, said the eight rebels were operating in the hinterland areas of Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla. They were convinced by the mobile Bayanihan Team of Alpha Company to surrender and lay down their guns, he said.

Gomez also said the AFP Guns for Peace Program played a significant role in encouraging them to surrender their hidden guns.

The eight rebels who are being secured by government troops are now undergoing profiling and debriefing by the 11IB, before they are presented to Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. to avail of initial financial and livelihood assistance from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.

The surrender of the eight rebels brought to 95 the number of NPA members in Negros Occidental, who have abandoned the armed struggle since 2011, military records show.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/October/07/topstory6.htm