51 Reds surrender, 17 nabbed since ceasefire suspension

At least 50 New People’s Army rebels have surrendered while 17 others were arrested almost a month after the government launched an all-out war against the NPA.

The NPA exodus is expected to continue as more rebels are sending surrender feelers to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said yesterday.

Apart from a program granted to rebel-returnees, their surrender is without condition, he said.

On Feb. 23, the AFP received 10 surrenderees and two more the following day.

Arevalo identified the two as Allan Mating, 19, who surrendered to the Army’s 25th Infantry Battalion in Compostela Valley, and Arjay Bangue to the 73rd IB in Davao Occidental.

Since the lifting of the government’s unilateral ceasefire on Feb. 4, the AFP has conducted 36 small unit operations against the NPA rebels.

The encounters, which averaged at two per day, resulted in the arrest of 17 rebels.

Among those recently arrested was top rebel leader Ernesto Samarita, who was captured in Nasugbu, Batangas on Feb. 21.

Samarita and his group were tagged in extortion activities in Pico de Loro.

Arevalo said the AFP recovered 37 firearms since the first day of the offensives.

Despite the ongoing operations, the AFP remains open to the possibility on the resumption of the peace talks.

Arevalo said the soldiers want peace and are hoping the NPA will comply with the conditions aimed toward putting an end to hostilities.

He expressed hope the recent spate of surrenders, arrests and neutralization of NPA rebels would result in the return of a majority of them to the folds of the law.