Wednesday, April 3, 2019

2 NPA rebels abandon unit, yield to troops in Sarangani

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 3, 2019): 2 NPA rebels abandon unit, yield to troops in Sarangani

Frustrated with their “uncertain cause,” two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) fled from their unit in Sarangani province over the weekend and surrendered to government troops.

Lt. Col. Jones Otida, commanding officer of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion (27IB), said Wednesday the rebels surrendered in the outskirts of Kiamba town, Sarangani while reportedly “on the run” early Sunday.

Otida said their troops were in the area as part of the continuing focused military operations against the NPA.

“They grabbed the chance to escape from their group and then surrendered to our pursuing troops,” he said.

Otida identified the returnees as aliases Ban-Ban and Toto, who were reportedly under the NPA’s Front 73 operating in Sarangani and South Cotabato provinces.

Ban-ban had been an NPA member for nine years and alias Toto was with the group for four years, the military official said.

The two surrendered three high-powered firearms composed of one AK-47 and two M-16 Armalite rifles, assorted bullets, camouflage uniforms, handheld radio and several subversive documents, he said.

“They were tired and felt hopeless with their situation in the mountains as they were always on the run. So they decided to just come down,” Otida said.

The Army official said the two also expressed frustration about the NPA's failure to provide them the promised benefits when they joined the organization.

Otida said the 27IB will endorse the inclusion of the returnees into the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program so they can avail of livelihood and other support assistance from various government agencies.

The surrenderers are also eligible to receive financial remuneration for the surrendered firearms, as well as security to protect them against possible retaliation from their former comrades.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1066353

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