Capt. Catherine Hapin, spokeswoman of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, said the 44 will be presented to Candon City Mayor Ericson Gacula Singson today and will be asked to pledge their allegiance to government.
Hapin said the 44 yielded to officials of the Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion in the presence of barangay officials in Barangay Tablac.
Hapin said the 44 surrendered due to “pressure from government forces,” referring to the relentless combat operations against the NPA and the province’s declaration of the rebel group as “persona non grata.”
Maj. Gen. Lenard Agustin, 7th ID commander, said the military will sustain the counter-insurgency operations to convince those “who have been led astray to surrender to the government and lead peaceful lives.”
“They now have the opportunity to live in peace and be with their families. The government will capacitate them to earn and start anew, and ensure that they will never go hungry again through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” said Agustin.
“We will welcome all those who choose to embrace peace but will consider an enemy those who will continue to back violence and insurgency,” Agustin added.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said about 1,800 NPA rebels and supporters have surrendered to the military during the first four months of the year.
https://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/5-npa-rebels-39-supporters-surrender-ilocos-sur
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