4 rebels, supporters surrender

MANILA, Philippines — Four New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas and their three supporters have surrendered in Catanauan, Quezon, the Philippine Army announced yesterday.

The guerrillas – identified by their aliases Rommel, Roy, Onil and Ayri ­– were members of the NPA’s Platun Reymark subregional military area 4B, according to Lt. Col. Emmanuel Cabahug, chief of the Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion.

Cabahug said the surrenderees turned over an AK-47 rifle and ammunition.

He attributed the rebels’ surrender to the relentless peace-keeping efforts implemented by the military and local government units in the province.

“This milestone is a testament to the success of the peace negotiations being done across our area of responsibility. Let these surrenders encourage more rebels to return to the fold of the law until the country’s insurgency problem ends through peaceful means,” Cabahug said.

The military commended the decision of the surrenderees to abandon the revolutionary movement.

The surrenderees will undergo debriefing and preparation for their inclusion in the enhanced comprehensive local integration program that grants benefits of up to P700,000 to rebel-returnees.