NPA rebel yields in Nueva Ecija

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 24, 2021): NPA rebel yields in Nueva Ecija (By Jason De Asis)

GIVING UP. A New People's Army rebel voluntarily surrendered in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija on Tuesday (Aug. 24, 2021). Nelson Banicod, alias Ka Ryan, is a former member of the Militia ng Bayan, a group belonging to the dismantled Komiteng Larangang Sierra Madre (KLG-SM). (Photo by the Army's 91IB)

Encouraged by the sincerity of the government in providing services and programs, a New People's Army (NPA) rebel surrendered in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, commander of the Army’s 91st Infantry (Sinagtala) Battalion (91st IB, identified the surrenderer as Nelson Banicod, alias Ka Ryan, a member of the NPA's Militia ng Bayan, a group belonging to the dismantled Komiteng Larangang Sierra Madre (KLG-SM).

He said weapons belonging to the NPA, a communist terrorist group, were recovered in Barangay Vega, Bongabon town following the disclosure of Ka Ryan.

The recovered items included one defaced M16 rifle), three magazines for M16, one long plastic magazine for M16, one short alloy magazine, 27 rounds of ammunition for M16, one piece of bandolier, and a radio.

The surrenderer and the weapons are in the custody of the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office for documentation and proper disposition.

“The surrender of Ka Ryan is a clear manifestation that the implementation of NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) is proven to be effective. This is also a result of good collaboration and partnership between the military and police in ending local communist armed conflict and sustaining our operational gains and successes,” he said.

Rubio urged the remnants of dismantled KLG-SM to lay down their arms and avail of the different programs of the government.

Meanwhile, Ka Ryan, in an interview, said he decided to surrender to the troops after he felt the sincerity of the government in providing services and programs.

“Kahirapan, gutom, walang patutunguhan na pakikibaka, at walang katuturan na pangako ng rebolusyonaryo sa pakikidigma sa gobyerno (Poverty, hunger, pointless struggle and worthless promises of the revolution against government),” he said of the reasons for his surrender.

The Communist Party of the Philippines - NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151480