NPA rebel surrenders

From the Mindanao Times (Mar 16): NPA rebel surrenders

AN ALLEGED leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the 36th Infantry Battalion bringing along nine anti-personnel improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the army headquarters in Sitio Upper Mambago, Barangay Dayoan, Tago, Surigao del Sur on Sunday noon.

Capt. Francisco Garello, the civil-military operations (CMO) officer of 36th IB, identified him as alias Edwin, 21, and a resident of Barangay Cabangahan of the same town.

Garello was said to be a former squad leader of Platoon 1, SRSDG 2130 (Westland) of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the 36th IB commanding officer, said that “the use of IEDs once again proves the terrorist tag of the CPP-NPA as it continuously violates the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect to Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

“This substantiates that the terrorist group does not really honor an agreement with its blatant disregard to commitment in forging a long and lasting peace agreement with the government,” Trinidad said.

He is also optimistic that there would be more communist guerrillas who will surrender in the near future.

“We encourage, once again, the remaining members of the terrorist group to take the path of peace and lay down their arms in order to live a joyful and peaceful life with their family,” the commander added.

http://mindanaotimes.net/npa-rebel-surrenders-2/