SOUTH COTABATO – More members of the terrorist group New People’s Army (NPA) return to the fold of the law after realizing the ideology that they believe in is hard to achieve.
Thirteen more NPA rebels operating in the hinterlands of South Cotabato and its neighboring provinces have laid down their firearms and surrendered last Monday to the fold of the law.
Colonel Jemuel Siason, Police Director of this province told newsmen the former rebels were combatants of the NPA under Guerilla Front 72 (Alip) and also 73 (Musa) of the NPA South Mindanao Region.
He said the rebel’s difficult situation in the hinterlands has prompted them to surrender and also the massive manhunt launched against them by the Duterte Government.
The surrenderees laid down their firearms namely M16A1 Elisco 5.56 Armalite rifle, Uzi sub-machine pistol, M1 Springfield armory garand rifle, carbine rifle, and assorted ammunitions and improvised explosives. They have also returned some subversive documents, NPA flag, and other documents.
“They were also convinced with the commitment and efforts of the national government to deliver various services and development initiatives to far-flung communities,” Col Siason said in a report to the media
The military official said in one of the outreach programs of the task force End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) a certain man who identified himself as “Jeff” approached them about the NPAs plan to surrender.
He said talks were initiated between the government and the terrorist group in the upland areas of Banga and Tampakan, as well as in Koronadal city, and this yielded positive results like the final surrender of 13 NPA cadres.
The United States, United Kingdon, and the European Union have also tagged the NPA group in the Philippines as a terrorist organization. ###
