AROUND 130 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and supporters have surrendered in northern Luzon since December 1 last year amid relentless operations against the communist insurgents, the military reported yesterday.
Twenty-eight of those who surrendered are NPA members while 102 are members of different mass organizations supporting the NPA, said the Tarlac City-based AFP Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).
The most recent surrender involved 50 NPA supporters who yielded to the Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion in Gregorio del Pilar town in Ilocos Sur on Tuesday.
“In addition to the surrendered personalities, a total of 17 firearms and three improvised explosive devices were recovered since December last year,” said acting Nolcom commander Maj. Gen. Gen. Andrew Costelo.
Costelo attributed the surrender of the 130 rebels and supporters to unrelenting combat operations against the communists and peace initiatives of the military and stakeholders.
Costelo said communist insurgency in northern Luzon is near its end and urged the remaining NPA rebels in the area to surrender.
Costelo assured the public that the military remains dedicated to attaining lasting peace in northern Luzon.
The military is aiming to defeat the NPA before the end of President Duterte’s in June. Latest military estimates placed the NPA strength at 3,000 to 3,500 men throughout the country.
