NPA couple surrender in Eastern Samar after 18 years

From the Philippine News Agency (May 14, 2021): NPA couple surrender in Eastern Samar after 18 years (By Sarwell Meniano)

ABANDONING THE REBEL MOVEMENT. The map of Dolores, Eastern Samar where the New People's Army (NPA) couple surrendered to policemen on Thursday night (May 13, 2021) after 18 years of joining the armed struggle. The couple decided to abandon the NPA after both of them were accused last month of being traitors and were punished to settle outside Eastern Visayas. (Google image)

A couple recruited by the New People’s Army (NPA) nearly two decades ago, surrendered to policemen in Dolores, Eastern Samar late Thursday.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) identified the couple as alias Maoy, 34, and her 30-year-old wife, who was not named for security reasons. They were newlyweds when recruited by the communist terrorist group 18 years ago in their hometown in Dolores.

"They served the organization with several positions as regular guerrilla members and even nurtured their four children in an antagonistic way of life. Their loyalty cannot be disputed but not until they realized that the NPA organization did nothing to help their family," the PNP said in its report sent to media on Friday.

The couple decided to abandon the NPA after they were accused last month of being traitors and were punished to settle outside Eastern Visayas.

“That convinced them to defy them and denounced their cause and consequently yield to the fold of law through the PNP 1st Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company headquarters,” the PNP added.

"Maoy", who was a fighter under the NPA Eastern Visayas regional party committee sub-regional operation command turned over a .38-caliber pistol with five live ammunition.

His wife acted as intelligence personnel, courier, and revolutionary tax collector of the communist terrorist group.

The two yielded to authorities around 10 p.m. on Thursday. The couple is now under the custody of PNP while their children (all minors) are under the watch of their relatives.

The NPA, which has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1140244