6 NPA rebels surrender in Western Visayas – Army

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 10): 6 NPA rebels surrender in Western Visayas – Army

Four self-confessed members of the New People’s Army in Negros and two others from Panay surrendered to the Philippine Army units in Western Visayas from January to March this year.

Maj. Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the 3rd Infantry Division in the islands of Negros and Panay, said the surrender of the six brings to 50 the number of rebels who abandoned the armed struggle in the region.

Sonny Boy Senda, alias Ka Raymund, a member of Squad 3, Sentro De Grabidad platoon of the South East Front, surrendered on March 6 to the 79th Infantry Battalion in Siaton, Negros Oriental.

On March 8, an encounter between 79th Infantry Battalion troopers and about 15 NPA members was reported in Barangay Bahi-an, Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.

An M-16 Armalite rifle with two magazines of ammunition, a backpack containing personal belongings and subversive documents, were found at the encounter site, Tiongson said.

He added that the return of several NPA members to the mainstream society and abandonment of their 44 camps last years are indications of weakening revolutionary organization in the region.

These camps included 24 in Negros and 20 in Panay.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=624043