NPA surrenders, hands over gun

From the Visayan Daily Star (Feb 21): NPA surrenders, hands over gun

A self-confessed member of the New People’s Army operating in southern Negros Oriental, surrendered to the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, based in Siaton town, recently.

Lt. Col. Harold Anthony Pascua, 79th IB commander, identified the man as Juvani Ponseca Suarez, “alias Tommy”, “Lax” and “Vivian”, 39, of Sitio Aponoy in Barangay San Francisco, Sta. Catalina town, in southern Negros Oriental.

Suarez was reportedly the second in command of Squad 3, Sentro de Gravidad Platoon of the NPA’s South Eastern Front operating in Sta. Catalina, Siaton and parts of Valencia, Negros Oriental, Pascua said.

He surrendered to government troops and police in Barangay Nagbalaye, Sta. Catalina, Sunday, and brought with him a Smith and Wesson .357 caliber revolver and five rounds of ammunition, Capt. Lito Orbita, acting Civil Military Operations officer of the 79th IB said in a press release.

Orbita said Suarez claimed that all he wants is to be reunited with his family and have a meaningful life in the community, the press release added.

Pascua attributed the surrender of Suarez to the teamwork between local officials, communities and the Bayanihan Teams doing outreach programs in far-flung sitios and barangays of Negros Oriental that, he said, awakened the members of the NPA and encouraged more of them to abandon the armed struggle.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Pascua said the Army will help facilitate the surrender of Suarez so he can receive remuneration from the government for the firearm that he surrendered, and qualify for the local livelihood programs for rebel returnees.

He said that under the “Guns for Peace” program of the Armed Forces of the Government, former rebels who lay down their arms and return to mainstream society can qualify for cash assistance in exchange for their firearms.

The provincial government has its own program where rebel returnees are provided with cash assistance for livelihood for them to start their lives anew, outside of the insurgency movement, he added.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/February/21/negor2.htm