7 more rebels surrender in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Seven New People's Army (NPA) fighters voluntarily surrendered to the troops of the Armed Forces' Eastern Mindanao Command in Compostela Valley, South Cotabato and Davao Oriental over the weekend.

The first surrender took place in Barangay Salingkumot, Baganga town, Davao Oriental last January 24.

Two rebels, identified as "Bryan" and "Jason", both members of the NPA's Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, surrendered to the soldiers of the 67th Infantry Battalion around noon.

The second surrender took place in Sitio Tuboran, Barangay Ned in Lake Cebu, South Cotabato around 9:00 a.m. of January 25.

The surrenderees were identified as Ailyn Pandatu, Ena Pandatu, Bonjoe Ulaw, and Dodok Quileste.

They turned themselves in to troopers of the 27th Infantry Battalion.

On January 26, Efren Genoya, a suspected team leader of the NPA's extortion unit, also surrendered to the 66th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Cabinuangan, New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province around 8:00 a.m.

Capt. Alberto Caber, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson, said these returnees revealed that they were persuaded by the false promises of the NPA leaders and decided to surrender as they could no longer stomach the idea of conducting criminal activities just to fund their movement.

All seven surrenderees also want to be reunited with their respective families and become meaningful citizens in the community.

"They are now undergoing interview at respective headquarters and for proper disposition," Caber stressed.

For the record, there were a total of 200 NPA surrenderees for the calendar year 2013 and a total of 20 NPA surrenderees in the Eastern Mindanao Command area of responsibility as of this year.

The concerned units facilitated the livelihood and cash assistance for the NPA returnees.

Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III commended the returnees for deciding to return to the folds of the law and be reunited with their respective families.

“I am confident that there would be more NPA returnees in the coming days. This is the result of the collaboration between our local officials, community and our Bayanihan teams on peace outreach works in the far flung barangays," he added.