NPA militiamen surrender guns

From the Visayan Daily Star (Apr 1, 2019): NPA militiamen surrender guns

Twenty-seven Yunit Militia members of the New People’s Army returned to the folds of law and surrendered 13 firearms on Saturday in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, a day after the NPA marked its 50th founding anniversary.

Police Lt. Col. Mario Baquiran, commander of the Negros Occidental Police Mobile Force Company, said yesterday that they were able to convince the 27 NPA Yunit Militia members, who are residents of Brgy. Paitan, Escalante City, to surrender, after a series of dialogs, in tandem with the 79th Infantry Battalion and 6th Special Action Battalion of the PNP Special Action Force, among other support units.

Baquiran also said that the series of military operations of the79IB, SAF troopers and NOPCPMFC in the 1st district of Negros Occidental, including the hinterlands of Escalante City, may also have pressured the Yunit Militia members of the North Negros Front- Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros to give up the armed struggle and live normal lives with their families.

The13 surrendered firearms included an Uzi machine pistol, 357 Magnum and .38 caliber revolvers, he said.

Early this month, 25 NPA members in Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, also gave up the armed struggle and surrendered 27 high-powered firearms to the 79IB, 6SAB and NOPMFC.

After their surrender Saturday at the Balay Kauswagan in Brgy. Rizal, Sagay City, Baquiran said the former rebels immediately underwent profiling, in preparation for their integration to mainstream society and to avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/April/01/topstory6.htm