3 NPA rebels surrender to military forces in Davao del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 10): 3 NPA rebels surrender to military forces in Davao del Sur

Three New People’s Army fighters voluntarily surrendered to the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Bansalan, Davao del Sur Friday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the rebels also surrendered three high-powered firearms consisting of one M-14 automatic rifle and two M-16 rifles.

The surrenderees are all active members of the NPA’s Front 51, SMRC operating in the areas of Davao del Sur and Makilala, North Cotabato.

Zagala said that the three are now undergoing custodial debriefing at the 39th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Barangay Tuban, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

He added that the surrendered rebels requested that the AFP withhold their identities for fear of retaliation by their former comrades in the NPA.

On the other hand, the military sees the surrender as an act of progress, knowing that not all members of the NPAs believe in their leaders’ hard-line stance on armed violence as means to achieve their goals.

"Their reasons for joining the communist movement might have been legitimate ones but after almost two decades of armed struggle, they have not realized that joining a group which causes only violence against our people isn't the answer," Zagala stressed.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=603834