3 NPA rebels surrender, yield firearms in Bulacan

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 16, 2023): 3 NPA rebels surrender, yield firearms in Bulacan (By Zorayda Tecson)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Three members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) have surrendered to authorities in Bulacan province on Saturday.

In his report on Sunday, Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr., regional director of the Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3), identified the surrenderers as “Ka JR”; “Ka Brix,” a supply unit officer in Ifugao province; and “Ka Irma,” a political instructor operating in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Rizal, and Zambales.

Hidalgo said the three surrendered rebels also yielded one Uzi submachine gun, a caliber .9mm, two magazines, five live ammunition, one hand grenade, and one rifle grenade with a bullet trap.

He urged other rebels to return to the fold of the law and avail of government assistance.

“We encourage other members of the communist terrorist groups to return to the fold of the law, go back to their communities, and have renewed lives,” Hidalgo said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the PRO-3 official also said that 15 CPP-NPA sympathizers in Guimba, Nueva Ecija have decided to cut ties with the terrorist group.

He said the former supporters, who are members of the Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid, withdrew their support from the Alyansang Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon-Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas on Friday.

Hidalgo said the government's relentless anti-insurgency campaign resulted in their voluntary withdrawal of support from the terrorist group and pledge of allegiance to the national government.

“The continuous local peace engagement activities of the police and the military such as information dissemination and situational interview made them aware of the government's programs and the opportunity to change their lives and correct the mistakes they have committed due to deception,” he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1205724