Injured NPA rebel surrenders in Misamis Occidental

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The government will extend cash and livelihood assistance to a wounded New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who surrendered in Misamis Occidental, military officials said Saturday.

The injured NPA rebel, Jemar Labito Salayon alias Ka Edward, surrendered at 9 a.m. Friday to the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion (IB) in the town of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental, said Lt. Col. Ryan Severo, 10th IB commanding officer.

Severo said Salayon will receive PHP15,000 in immediate cash assistance and PHP50,000 in livelihood assistance.

He said Salayon can also avail of the services of other government agencies, such as psycho-social debriefing from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); skills training by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); employment and capacity building from the different institutions of the government; and security as guaranteed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police.

Major Ronald Suscano, the Army’s 1st Infantry Division information officer, said Salayon was among the NPA rebels who figured in a clash with the 10th IB troops in Barangay Hoyohoy, Tangub City last August 11.

According to Suscano, Salayon said he was hit in the left knee during the clash and was abandoned by his comrades as they retreated.

He said Salayon, who is 17 years old, is recuperating at a hospital in Ozamis City.

Salayon's surrender came five days after 18 members of the NPA’s Sanga ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) and Militia ng Bayan (MB) surrendered to the 10th IB in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental.

“The surrender of this rebel and many other supporters is a welcome development in our ongoing effort in supporting the peace and development agenda of the government. We would like to transform Misamis Occidental into a conflictfree area that would bring peace and prosperity for the local folks of the province,” said Col. Bagnus Gaerlan, commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade.

Major Gen. Roseller Murillo, 1st Infantry Division commander, commended the troops who facilitated the surrender of the NPA rebels “for a job welldone.”

“Our efforts are relentless as we are tirelessly urging the remaining members of the New People’s Army and their supporters here in Western Mindanao to just lay down their arms, surrender and return to the folds of the law. We will help you start a new life,” Murillo said.

“As we expressed our support for the localized peace talk, we will likewise unrelentingly pursue the remaining enemies of the Filipino people – the NPA -until they voluntarily surrender or the hands of justice will be served to them,” he added.