11 NPA rebels surrender in Eastern Mindanao

CITING “disillusionment,” 11 members of the New People’s Army ( NPA) surrendered to the military over the weekend, the Eastern Mindanao Command ( EastMinCom) reported on Monday.

Among those who surrendered was an NPA squad leader, identified as a certain “Tonton,” monitored in the tri- boundary area of CotabatoDavao City- Bukidnon, EastMinCom spokesman Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey said.

Balagtey said Tonton surrendered at 9: 30 a. m. on Saturday. He was also reported to be a member of the Manobo tribe based in Antipas, North Cotabato.

Seized from Tonton was an M16 rifle and ammunition. He was initially turned over to the Philippine Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion for custodial debriefing and assessment.

In a separate surrender, three NPA members who were monitored in Surigao del Sur yielded to the 3rd Special Forces Battalion with the assistance of village officials in Tandag City in the afternoon of Sunday.

The three were identified by Balagtey as alias Kakar, 34, a former squad leader; a certain Elmo, 37, a former team leader of the NPA; and a certain Rosa, 28, a former supply officer for the NPA.

They were also brought to proper authorities for proper assessment and custodial debriefing.

In Compostela Valley, Balagtey reported that seven “Militia Ng Bayan” members surrendered to the 71st Infantry Battalion in the town of Mawab.

These surrendering militias of the NPA were only identified through their aliases: Bebot, Olbot, Jojo, Tata, Jimmy, Bording and Oning.