10 NPA members surrender anew

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 29, 2019): 10 NPA members surrender anew

Exhausted in the soldiers' relentless pursuit operations against the communist terrorists, 10 insurgents finally decided to return to the folds of the law on March 5.

The former rebels voluntarily surrendered to Ltc Oliver Baylon, commanding officer of the 1st Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 (MBLT-7) affirming the resentful system of the New People’s Army which merely propagates lies to the Teduray community in the town of Upi, Maguindanao.

The former rebels belonged to squad Primera led by Cesar Marcos Manguda, known as Commander Amina/Alas of the Cherry Mobile Platoon, GF73 operating in the municipalities of Lebak and Kalamansig all of Sultan Kudarat Province.

The surrenderees were presented to Brigadier General Eugenio Hernandez, commander of 1st Marine Brigade, North Upi Mayor Ramon Piang, and Mayor Reynalbert Insular of South Upi.

The former rebels also surrendered firearms which include two AK47 rifles, one M16 rifle, one hand grenade, and assorted ammunitions

“We are tired of hiding, experienced hunger and hardship, and dissatisfied of NPA ideology,” said Jerome, one of the surrenderees.

Former rebels are currently undergoing custodial debriefing, and if found to be eligible, they will be given assistance through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

Meanwhile, the local government units of North and South Upi provided initial financial assistance to the surrenderees and included them to the municipal payroll as casual employees with a monthly compensation amounting to P5,000 to support their families.

“Ang Inyong Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 ay kaagapay ng ating mga kapatid na minsa’y naligaw ng landas patungo sa kanilang pagbabalik loob at pagbabagong buhay,” said Ltc Baylon who also expressed gratefulness for the help of the officials of Barangay Rifao in the surrender of the former rebels. (DPAO-6ID)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1020319