BY MALU CADELINA MANAR
KIDAPAWAN CITY – Seven members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) yielded to the Philippine Army in Makilala, North Cotabato, a military officer said Friday.
First Lieutenant Walter Jhun Orille, civil military operations officer of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion, said the rebel returnees, all B’laan natives, were former members of the Mount Alip Command of the NPA Guerilla Front 72 which operates in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in Soccsksargen Region.
Of those who surrendered, two were females; five were minors or aged 15 to 16, thus considered “child combatants”, the Army officer said.
The rebels yielded at least nine long and high-powered firearms, several ammunition, and bomb paraphernalia.
The 39th IB presented to Major General Reuben Basiao, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, the rebels on September 4 inside the 39th IB headquarter in Poblacion, Makilala.
The rebel returnees were led by a certain Arom Morales, 28, leader of the Local Guerilla Unit (LGU) of the Front Guerilla Unit (FGU) Alip in Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR); alias Argus, 40, team leader of Primera FGU Alip; and alias “Loloy,” chairman of the Kilusang Rebolusyonaryo sa Munisipalidad (KRM) for 2016; and a certain “Joy”, chairman og KRM for 2017.
Their members who also yielded to the government were identified as “Bata”, 15; alias “Blue”, 16; and alias “Bruno”, all residents of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. (Malu Cadelina Manar)
