36 NPAs surrender in Sarangani

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Thirty-six suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas including 13 bomb experts surrendered in Sarangani over the weekend.

The rebels – who came from the towns of Kiamba, Maasim and Maitum – turned over rifles, shotguns, pistols and improvised explosive devices during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Army’s 38th Infantry Battalion in Maasim.

The ceremony was attended by Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID), Gov. Ruel Pacquiao and local executives.

Galido commended the provincial and concerned municipal governments for facilitating the surrender of the rebels.

More than a hundred NPAs have surrendered in batches to different units of the Army in Central Mindanao since January.

Galido declined to identify the surrenderees pending their relocation to areas far from the reach of their comrades.

The NPA is known for venting its ire on members and their families who return to the fold of the law.

Meanwhile, in Bulacan, another suspected NPA rebel surrendered to authorities on Saturday.

The 63-year-old surrenderee, identified only as Ka Dan, turned  over a revolver, grenade and ammunition to the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, police said. - Ramon Efren Lazaro