5 rebels surrender

ARAYAT - Five more members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) operating in this town on Thursday surrendered to the government through the joint efforts of the 48th Infantry Battalion and Pampanga Police Provincial Office.

Arayat Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino and Sta. Ana Mayor Norberto “Ross” Gamboa, who are both former members of the leftist groups, facilitated the surrender of the rebel returnees at the Arayat Municipal Hall.

Aside from turning themselves in, the ex-CTG members also yielded their firearms comprised of one improvised shotgun, one 9mm pistol and three caliber .30 pistols, Alejandrino said.

“Patuloy natin hinihikayat iyong mga dati nating kasamahan na bumaba na at makiisa sa bagong gobyerno. Balikan na nila ang kanilang mga pamilya at mamuhay ulit ng maayos, tahimik at ligtas (We continue to urge our former comrades to return to the fold of society and government, return to their families and live decently, peacefully and safe),” he said.

Alejandrino also disclosed that the ex-rebel members will be simultaneously presented to Governor Lilia Pineda for the provincial government’s proper documentation and possible awarding of incentives.

The Department of Interior and Local Government will likewise assess the rebel returnees and will be included in the Comprehensive Local Integration

Program (CLIP) which gives various benefits such as financial assistance, livelihood trainings to help them in their reintegration to the community.

The five ex-CTG members added up to the seven rebels who initially surrendered to the Central Luzon police and Pampanga provincial government in coordination with Alejandrino, Gamboa and the 48th Infantry Division.