26 NPA rebels surrender in Samar, Leyte

From the Sun Star-Tacloban (Mar 9): 26 NPA rebels surrender in Samar, Leyte

Government officials here welcomed about 26 members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) back into the fold of law, as security forces declared most of Eastern Samar towns insurgency-free.

Earlier, at least 12 towns and one city in Eastern Samar were declared insurgency-free or “manageable conflict-affected” by the military.

Major General Jet Velarmino, commander of the 8th Infantry Division, said the rebel returnees will avail themselves of the government’s Comprehensive Local Social Integration Program immediate cash assistance and livelihood after attending debriefing documentation.

Realizing a senseless armed struggle in the mountain, a full-time NPA guerilla identified as Arturo Pajanustan, alias Ka Pugoy, of the NPA’s Front Guerilla Unit operating in Eastern Samar, voluntarily surrendered on March 2.

Pajanustan turned over one unit of M1 United States Garand rifle before Colonel Perfecto Rimando, commander of the 801st Infantry Brigade stationed in Barangay Fatima, Hinabangan, Samar.

In Leyte, another NPA guerilla identified as Rechan Pernis, alias Ka Alvin/Gil, former team leader of Apoy Platoon of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) Front Committee-Leyte, also surrendered without firearm on March 2. He yielded to the 19th Infantry Battalion stationed in Barangay Aguiting, Kananga, in Leyte province.

In Eastern Samar, 24 NPA guerrillas and die-hard supporters also gave up their ideological fight and surrendered to the 14th Infantry Battalion on February 26 and 28.

Of the 24, seven of them are full-time NPA fighters, namely, Arturo Senobio, Lizel Rafales Nable alias Ka Charet, Alita Pecenio Senobio alias Ka Eva, Julia Orale Rebato alias Ka Ana, Jessie Rebato Nable alias Ka Jr., Crispo Rosco Rebato alias Ka Podin, and Edgar Orga Senobio alias Ka Bakong.

Ka Podin and Ka Bakong are councilors of Barangay Tugas, Maslog town.
Two other barangay officials of Tugas -- Edgardo Nable and Alberto Nuguit -- also surrendered.

Relatives of the rebel returnees who are said to be supporting the underground movement by acting as couriers, organizers and staff of various NPA units in Eastern Samar also surrendered. They were presented to the media last Monday at the 8th Infantry Division in Catbalogan City.

Among them are Maribel Nebril, Renato Pecenio Pajares alias Rolly, Necitas Nable Oros alias Cita, Zalda Pazarra Pajarilla, Clemente Ambida Orosco alias Berting, Carlos Pajarilla, Norma Rosco Rebato, Benjamin Pajares Rebato, Lope Pajares alias Oping, Alfredo Pajanustan alias Maning, Maribel Pajares Pajanustan alias Liza, Beverly Orantia Pajares alias Lucy, and Jerry O. Senobio.

Speaking on behalf of his former comrades, a guerilla leader, Jackson Nable, 39, resident of Maslog town, recalled how fighting became a lost cause after he and his family had to endure only the hard life in the mountains.

“Most of the time, we slept under trees, under the rain or intense heat and had little to eat. This became one of the deciding factors many of us consider when we made our decision (to surrender),” said Nable, alias Ka Epoy.

He said most of them who have surrendered have children who want formal education and a peaceful life.

“It is very hard for us running in the mountains, so I started sending surrender fillers to through my relatives to the Army,” Ka Epoy said in vernacular.

During the media presentation Monday, the returnees pledged allegiance to the government by singing the national anthem, with their right hands over their hearts.

General Velarmino, along with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Samar Manager Imelda Bonifacio, and local government officials congratulated the returnees for returning to their normal life.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/local-news/2016/03/09/26-npa-rebels-surrender-samar-leyte-461600