Ex-rebels help Army recover NPA firearms in Surigao Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 10, 2023): Ex-rebels help Army recover NPA firearms in Surigao Sur (By Alexander Lopez)

ARMS CACHE. 'Jong-Jong', one of the two New People’s Army rebels, stands in front of the arms cache hidden by the rebels in the peripheries of Barangay San Isidro, Lianga town, Surigao del Sur, following their surrender on Saturday (July 8, 2023). Government troops recovered six high-powered firearms and ammunition. (Photo courtesy of 3SFBn)

BUTUAN CITY – Two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered in the Surigao del Sur town of Lianga over the weekend, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) said Monday.

In a statement, 3SFBn said the surrenderers yielded before them and the 75th Infantry Battalion (75IB) on Saturday in Barangay St. Christine, Lianga town.

The surrenderers, identified as a certain “KR” and “Jong-Jong,” belonged to the NPA Regional Sentro De Grabidad of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

It said the intensified military operations in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur forced the two rebels to surrender.

“The two rebels also pinpointed to Army soldiers the location of an arms cache concealed in the vicinity of Barangay San Isidro, Lianga town,” the 3SFBn said.

The recovered firearms include two .50-caliber sniper rifles, four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines, and two .50-caliber magazines with ammunition.

“The two former rebels are currently undergoing custodial debriefing and legal processing, initiating the formal process of integrating themselves back into the mainstream society,” the military unit said.

The surrenderers are set to receive immediate assistance of PHP10,000 each from the provincial social welfare office.

Brig. Gen. Francisco Lorenzo, the Army's 401st Infantry Brigade commander, called on the families of the remaining NPA members in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur to surrender.

"The government is sincere in its commitment to end the local communist armed conflict in the country,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1205262