62 rebels surrender in WV, more to follow suit: Military

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 14): 62 rebels surrender in WV, more to follow suit: Military

The New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who surrendered and joined the mainstream of society in Region 6 has increased in number.

Maj. Rey Tiongson, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID), Philippine Army based in Camp Macario Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz, said a total of 62 rebel insurgents has surrendered to the 3ID during the 1st semester of this year.

Tiongson said, of the total number, 26 rebels from the NPA’s Komite Rehiyon-Panay surrendered to the military authorities in Panay Island. The figure include the two rebels who lately surrendered to authorities in the province of Capiz.

While the remaining 36 cadres from the Komite Rehiyon-Negros that include three other rebels from Central Visayas also came down from their mountain lairs and gave themselves up before the military authorities across Negros Island.

Tiongson said the number of rebels who surrendered during the first semester of this year is 40 percent higher compared to a record of 18 rebels for the same period last year.

These rebel surrenderees, he said, has been placed under the social integration program of the government where they availed of financial and livelihood assistance for them to start their respective endeavors under the mainstream of the democratic society.

Meanwhile, the 3ID OIC commander Brig. Gen. Jonas Sumagaysay said they are expecting more rebels to return to the fold of law as they were already tired of the futile armed struggle for the past several decades now.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=544039