ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Eight New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas have surrendered to the military at the border of Lanao and Bukidnon provinces, a security official reported on Saturday.
Six of the rebels, who were members of the NPA’s North-Central Mindanao Regional Command, gave themselves up to the Army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion. Two others followed suit after learning of their comrades’ surrender.
The rebels yielded 11 rifles, according to Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III, commander of the Army’s 1st Division.
Two of the surrenderees disclosed to the military the location of their firearms, which they hid following a bloody encounter in Maguing, Lanao del Sur on March 18.
Soldiers recovered the hidden firearms on Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, commended his men for the peaceful surrender of the rebels.