8 more NPA rebels yield in Sultan Kudarat

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 3): 8 more NPA rebels yield in Sultan Kudarat

Tired of eluding and fighting government forces in the hinterlands of Sultan Kudarat, eight more members of the New People's Army (NPA) belonging to indigenous peoples community surrendered Thursday to military authorities.

Capt. Rogelio Agustin Jr., commanding officer of the Army’s Charlie Company, 33rd Infantry Battalion, said the former rebels turned over two M16 assault rifles and two huge improvised bombs during a simple rite held at the forested area of Barangay Kuden, Sen. Ninoy Aquino.

"They were very tired and hungry after months f evading our patrols in the forests,” Agustin said. “It is fortunate that they heard about the good stories on the other rebels who had surrendered to our unit in the past months."

1Lt John Jamora, the commanding officer of Alpha Company, revealed that “Ka Bobby” and “Ka Jimboy,” leaders of Platoon Cloudphone who surrendered in September, facilitated the negotiation with their former subordinates.

Michael Galing, 37, one of the surrenderers, said he had learned about the ongoing efforts of the local government to resolve their community problems.

"Mayor Randy Ecija and the Army have extended their assistance to the Manobo tribe. We now believe that the government can solve our problems such as the land grabbing in our ancestral lands," Galing said in vernacular.

The Army’s 33rd IB also cited the roles of different state security forces, including the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 26th Military Intelligence Company, Sen. Ninoy Aquino municipal police office and the local government unit in the successful campaign to bring rebels back to the mainstream society.

The latest NPA surrender in Sen. Ninoy Aquino town brought to a total of 60 NPA members returning to the folds of the law since May, through the efforts of Army’s 33rd IB.

Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, Army’s 33rd IB chief, lauded his men for using their influence in bringing in the IP fighters who were obviously duped by NPA leaders. He said the former militants would receive government assistance through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the government. Under the CLIP, rebel returnees receive livelihood assistance from the government.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1014760