13 Reds surrender during Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas surrendered to different Army units in Davao region during Holy Week, the military reported yesterday.

Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said three insurgents yielded to the 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Colonsabak, Matanao, Davao del Sur on Friday morning.

One of the surrenderees was an NPA team leader who belong to a group that the military has been pursuing at the boundaries of Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

On the same day, an NPA fighter, identified as Ka Rosman, surrendered to the 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

On Thursday, six NPA guerrillas and four members of the paramilitary group Militia ng Bayan surrendered to the same Army unit.

Aside from them, 30 members of an underground mass organization from Sitio Kahayag, Barangay Banag-banag and Sitio Bantolinao, Barangay Padiay, both in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur surrendered to authorities.