Rebels surrender in Mt. Province
THREE members of the New People’s Army including some 17 of its supporters surrender in Mt. Province recently
The two former rebels returned to the mainstream of society on April 26 at Poblacion, Paracelis through the initiative
and persistence of Paracelis Municipal Police Station(MPS), Provincial Mobile Force Coy, Police Regional Office -Cordillera, Alpha Coy of the 54th IB, PA, and Franklin Tallawec of the Cordillera Bodong Association (CBA) while the 16 – year old female voluntarily surrendered to officials of the Philippine Army and the Bontoc MPS.
Getting a new lease of life Rogelio Balanon Del Rosario aka “Ka Eric”, squad leader, and Benny Lumidap Tuginay, aka “Ka Manny”, both residents of Gonzaga, Cagayan under the 'Frank Guerilla Unit' based in Gonzaga, Cagayan and operating in Cagayan and nearby regions.
The 17 CPP-NPA Militiang Bayan supporters also declared their support to the governments peace initiatives.
The two former rebels turned over a carbine rifle with no serial number, two magazines for carbine rifle, 10 ammunitions for carbine, an M16 rifle with defaced serial number, a short metal magazine for M16, and five ammunitions for M16 which are now under the custody of Paracelis MPS.
The surrender of the members of the rebels and their supporters showed their frustration, and their loss of trust and confidence with the NPA leadership, coupled with fear from the continuous and intense pressure brought about by the PNP and PA offensives.
PRO-COR regional director Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza considers the surrender as a welcome development and assured the PNP will help them return to their normal way of life through the delivery of basic social and public safety services.
"We encourage other members and supporters of the NPA to lay down their arms and return to the mainstream of society. We extend our gratitude to the different stakeholders, and community for their unwavering support to our troops which is a clear indication that more people are embracing the path to peace, and that peace in the countryside and far flung communities will cause progress and development," Carranza said.
The minor meanwhile, based on the report coming from the 54th Infantry Batallion, the female minor was identified by the name 'Ka Trese', a grade 10 student from Bontoc and was a member of the Leonardo Pacsi command for the last three years.
Upon her surrender, she turned over subversive documents, three M-16 armalite rifles, four cellular phones, cash and various writing paraphernalia.
During her voluntary surrender, she underwent a stake of shock prompting officials to bring her to the hospital for medical attention.
54th Infantry Batallion Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Narciso Nabulnag said the abuses the minor incurred from the members and officials of the NPA is a manifestation of how the communist organizations treats there members.
Nabulnag called on other members of the NPA's seeking to get out from the communist organization to coordinate with local government officials, the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police.