By Mike Crsimundo
BUTUAN CITY – The Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) continued to dwindle in numbers as more rebels voluntarily surrendered to the government, Lt. Tere Ingente, chief of the Public Affairs office (PAO) of the Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID) said.
She claimed that the government is gaining headway in its war against CNTs. The 4th ID PAO chief also claimed that more rebels are set to return to the fold of the law and to avail of the government’s livelihood, peace and development program.
Lt. Ingente cited the revelation of the armed CNT who just surrendered to the 30thInfantry Battallion on Saturday in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Placer, Surigao del Norte.
She said the rebel returnee disclosed during initial investigation that several NPA members are having second thoughts in continuing the armed struggle because of severe difficulties they have been experiencing.
Lt. Ingente said the surrenderee (identity temporarily withheld for security reason), brought along with him his AK47 rifle with 3 magazines fully loaded with 81 live ammunitions, when he voluntarily surrendered at 3 a.m. on Saturday to the command group of the 30th IB led by its commander Lt. Col. Allen Raymund Tomas.
