8 NPA rebels yield in Davao Region, army reports

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 9): 8 NPA rebels yield in Davao Region, army reports

A total of eight members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) have surrendered to authorities since February 1, the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division of the Philippine Amy said on Thursday.

In a statement, Captain Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of 10th ID said the surrender of eight rebels was the offshoot of offensive operations of the army in the area after the unilateral ceasefire of the government was lifted by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“This is the immediate result of the offensives we launched. These NPAs decided to go back to the folds of the law and live peacefully in their respective families and communities,” Batchar said in a phone interview Thursday.

For security reasons, the real identities of the rebels who recently surrendered were withheld, as Batchar only identified them through aliases.

He said that alias Junie Mike, Tenen, Ranil, Jimboy and Francis surrendered to the troopers of the 67th Infantry Battalion in Davao Oriental while Robert and Rustom yielded to the 73rd Infantry Battalion in Davao Occidental.

“Junie surrendered on February 1 after the encounter in Sitio Paliwason, Barangay Lambog, Manay, Davao Oriental last February 1, while Mike, Tenen, Ranil and Jimboy on February 7, as a result of the offensive operations launched by 67th IB. Francis returned to the folds of the law on February 8, after being with the NPA for less than two months. They are all members of Guerilla Front 15,” Batchar said.

He added that Robert and Rustom are members of Guerilla Front 71, who voluntarily surrendered last February 6 to the 73rd IB.

Hardship and hunger while being with the NPA, including disillusionment forced the eight NPA members to go back to normal lives.

Batchar also reported that offensive operations of the 10th ID also resulted to two encounters, the discovery of five encampments and the recovery of nine improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Major General Rafael C Valencia, 10th ID commander also called on members of the NPA in the area to return to the folds of the law now.

"They must realize that they are with a terrorist group sowing fear on our own people," Valencia said.

The general also asked the people in the area to encourage NPAs to surrender for the good of their families.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=962531