COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Twenty-eight alleged New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas surrendered to the military in Kiamba, Sarangani on Friday.
The guerrillas renounced their membership in the communist movement, in the presence of Mayor George Falgui and other local officials during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Army’s 38th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Tambilil.
The surrender was facilitated by the local officials and Lt. Col. Michael Angelo Candole, commander of the 38th IB.
Eight of the surrenderees said they were involved in extortion activities, according to Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
The Army withheld the identities of the surrenderees.
Meanwhile, in Bulacan, an alleged female rebel leader was arrested in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan last week.
The Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) said the suspect, identified as Janeth dela Rosa, is allegedly the secretary of the NPA’s Central Luzon Regional White Area Committee and member of the Central Luzon Regional Committee.
Dela Rosa’s arrest was based on a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court of Iba in Zambales on charges of murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr. - Artemio Dumlao