More NPA rebels will yield to gov’t, says military official

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 7): More NPA rebels will yield to gov’t, says military official

GUIPOS, Zamboanga del Sur – At least three (3) regular members of the New People’s Army from the Natarang Guerilla ng Kara (NG-KARA) of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) on Saturday, September 5, decided to return to the folds of the law and live normal lives.

The rebel returnees were identified as Erme Elnas, alias “James,” 22 years old, a member of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda;  Anselma Perez Quijano, alias “Jelly,” 26 ; and Lodovico Jordan Nadal Jr. alias “Jay-Ar,” 26,  voluntarily surrendered to Lt. Col. Alvin Luzon, commanding officer of the 53rd Infantry Battalion at its headquarters at Camp Sabido, this municipality.

Elnas yielded KG45 sub-machine gun  with defaced serial number and Quijano  a caliber 45 pistol 1911-A1 with serial number 973124 to Col. Luzon.

The military chief said based on the initial debriefing, the sustained combat operation of government forces and the dwindling mass support were the reasons for their surrender.

Luzon said their successful surrender  was made possible through the joint efforts of the intelligence platoon of 53rd IB; Special Mission Platoon of 1st Military Intelligence Battalion and Police Intelligence Branch  of Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office.

He said a total of 19 former NPA rebels have surrendered to the government.

Five (5) former NPA rebels surrendered to the headquarters on May 25, another eight (8) rebels surrendered in the evening of August 11, and three (3) surrendered during the declaration of Zamboanga del Sur as Peaceful and Ready for Further Development province on August 12, at the Amusement and Events Center, Provincial Capitol compound where the former rebels were given P15,000 each under the national government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

Luzon said the gradual increase of NPA rebels who surrendered to the government  are the fruits and success of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan campaign.

He is thankful to our brothers who have returned to the folds of the law and  abandoned the armed movement.

“In a span of just about 3 months, we were able to convince NPA rebels to surrender to the government,” Luzon happily announced.

“With the significant increase of number of surenderees this year, I am optimistic that more NPA rebels will return to the folds of the government,” Luzon concluded.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1371441590113/more-npa-rebels-will-yield-to-gov-t-says-military-official