NPA rebel surrenders in Bukidnon

Another high-ranking official of the New Peoples Army (NPA) has turned himself in to authorities in Bukidnon over the weekend, the military said.

The army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) facilitated the surrender of 23 years old Jurnaven Napungahan alias Jibber, of San Luis, Agusan del Sur.

In a statement, the military said Napungahan is a team leader of SubRegional Command 2, North Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCMRC).

“According to him (Napungahan), his parents are sick and he could not take care for them because of his wrong decision to be with the NPA,”the military said.

“They (NPA) are always promising that we will win the war against the government but we always run when the army arrives and we are

experiencing hunger,” Napungahan said as quoted by the military.

The military also claimed the former rebel decided to abandon the arm struggle after learning the benefits the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) could offer if he lay down his arm.

8IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana said the military and the local government unit will process all the benefits including other assistance to the family of the former rebel.

“Ka Jibber realized the truth that the terrorists are good only in talking and that they can’t provide all the needs of their members. He was only a victim and we will accept him to return to his normal lives,” Illana said.

“I am again calling the remaining members of the rebels especially SRC1 and SRC2 of NCMRC that your dependable battalion is willing to accept and hep you back to normal lives for your family and our society, ”he added. Alwen Saliring