NPA rebel, 2 minors surrender

From the Mindanao Times (Feb 22): NPA rebel, 2 minors surrender

A TEAM supply officer and two underage members of the New People’s Army (NPA)s surrendered to the the 67th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Sangab, Barangay Pichon, Caraga in Davao Oriental on Sunday afternoon.

Capt. Ronnel Legarde, the civil-military operations (CMO) officer of 67th IB, identified the two minors to TIMES only as alias Mimi, 15, and alias Lenlen, 17.

Legarde said both were members of Abe Primera of Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) 8, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SRMC) and resident of Sitio Nagas, Barangay Tumoaong, Tarragona, Davao Oriental.

The supply officer was identified as alias Darwin, a resident of Sitio Bantawon, Barangay Pichon, Caraga.

Based on the interview with the soldiers of 67th IB, Darwin was recruited by alias Jampong/Red in Sitio Bangol, Barangay Tubaon, Tarragona, while the two girls were recruited by Darwin in Sitio Calinawan, Barangay Taocanga, Manay.

“The three surrendered because of hunger, hardship, and fear for their lives and for their families,” Legarde said.

“They realized that they were wasting their lives in fighting for no reason at all,” he added.

According to Legarde, during the pulong-pulong in Sitio Sangab, Barangay Pichon on Feb. 15, 2018, the three heard the program of the government.

In his statement, Lt. Col. Thaddeus Jacob Obligado, commander of 67th IB, said, “I encourage the community to take part for their responsibility in the sustainability of peace and security in their ancestral domain.”

http://mindanaotimes.net/npa-rebel-2-minors-surrender/