2 NPA rebels yield in South Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 5): 2 NPA rebels yield in South Cotabato

Two members of a New People’s Army (NPA) unit operating in the hinterlands of South Cotabato province surrendered over the weekend to police authorities in T'boli town.

Sr. Supt. Nelstor Salcedo. South Cotabato police director, said Monday the rebels yielded voluntarily at around 8 a.m. Saturday in Sitio Tabudtod, Barangay New Dumangas in Tboli following a series of negotiations.

He identified the returnees as Nitong and Jing Garcito, who were reportedly former members of the NPA’s Front 73.

The two gave up their caliber .45 handguns and an improvised explosive designed as a landmine, he said.

“We initially received information about their plans to surrender so we reached out to their families and eventually established communication with them,” Salcedo said.

The police official said the negotiations took several days until they were able to convince the rebels to yield along with their firearms.

During their talks, he said they explained the government’s assistance programs for rebel returnees, especially the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

Through the program, Salcedo assured that the returnees will be provided with livelihood assistance and receive additional cash benefits for the surrendered firearms.

CLIP reintegrates former rebels into the social mainstream and uplifts their socio-economic conditions to enable them to become active partners in the local development.

The program also seeks to contribute towards the achievement of the goal of permanent peaceful closure of all armed conflicts with non-state armed groups.

Salcedo said they will also assist the returnees in facing the charges of arson and kidnapping with serious illegal detention previously filed against them.

He said these cases were due to the series of attacks staged by NPA rebels under the Front 73 in Tboli town in the past several years.

“We explained to them that it’s better for them to face these charges instead of hiding as they will continue to be targeted because of them,” he said.

Salcedo assured the security of the two returnees, who are currently under the custody of the Tboli municipal police station, in coordination with the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1024069