3 NPA leaders, 13 other rebels surrender

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Three New People’s Army leaders and 13 other NPA rebels have surrendered in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.

Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) commander, said the 16 communist rebels and nine others who surrendered to the 62nd Infantry Battalion on March 29 took their oath of allegiance and pledged to support the government on Tuesday.

Pasaporte said the NPA leaders, whose identities were withheld for security reasons, were a commander of the Sentro De Grabidad platoon, a political instructor and a medical officer.

He said focused military operations led to the surrender of the rebels.

Meanwhile, the Leonardo Panaligan Command denied that the surrenderees were communist rebels.

In a statement, the rebel group said the NPA guerrillas presented by the 303rd IB are ”recycled and fake surrenderees.”