Another NPA rebel surrenders to Army battalion

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 7): Another NPA rebel surrenders to Army battalion

Another self-confessed member of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has voluntarily surrendered to the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Siaton, Negros Oriental.

This is the second NPA rebel to have surrendered to the 79th IB since its recently appointed OIC battalion commander, Lt. Col. Harold Anthony Pascua, assumed office last February 10.

Diego (not his real name), who claims to be a member of Squad 3 of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon of the NPA’s South East Front-Komiteng Rehiyon Negros turned himself in to government troops on Thursday, said Lt. Col. Pascua.

The said NPA unit is operating in the areas of Pamplona, San Jose and boundaries of Sta Catalina and Siaton, Negros Oriental.

“Diego”, 22, told the Philippine Army that he voluntarily surrendered to clear his name and go back to mainstream society. He further said he wants to live a peaceful and normal life with his family, free from fear and danger.

He went on to say that he left the underground organization “due to internal conflict wherein he lost interest and trust”.

Pascua has attributed the recent surrenders of self-proclaimed NPA members to the continuous military operations conducted by the battalion.

Last February 21, another 22-year old male from Pamplona, Negros Oriental also surrendered to the 79th IB for the very same reasons as that of “Diego”.

Lt. Col. Pascua disclosed a dwindling number of members of the NPA’s SDG-SEF-KRN, adding that hopefully more rebels will return to the fold of the law soon.

He encouraged members of the NPA to lay down their arms and solve the internal conflict with the government peacefully and avail of the Local Social Integration Program which is offered by the local government of Negros Oriental.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=623308