CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – At least 306 members and supporters of New Peoples’ Army in Masbate province have surrendered to the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), officials announced Thursday.
Major Ricky Aguilar, spokesperson of 9 Infantry Division (9ID), confirmed that 47 regular NPA members, 150 Milisyang Bayan (MB) members, 51 Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) officers and members, and 58 supporters surrendered the day before the Communist Party of Philippines’ (CPP’s) 51st founding anniversary.
Aguilar said 279 of these former rebels have surrendered to the Army, 21 to the PNP, and 6 to the PCG.
“Ngayon sila officially nag-surface. May mga coordinations na tayo in the previous months,” Aguilar disclosed.
The group also surrendered 49 firearms that include six M16 rifles, a carbine, two KG9 sub-machine guns, one Ingram pistol, a homemade Garand, 10 homemade shotguns, one shotgun, 1 caliber 380 gun, 14 .38-caliber pistols, nine 357-caliber pistols, three .45-caliber pistols and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“The recent mass surrender of the members of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) manifests that the government’s effort to offer peace is on the right track and that the influence of this communist group is weakening. Finally, the people are realizing that the five-decade of violence is senseless,” Col. Noe Alberto Penafiel, commander of 903rd Infantry Brigade, said. (Nino N. Luces)
