ONE hundred eighty-nine New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered en masse to authorities in Bukidnon, further weakening the rebel group’s armed struggle that has already spanned 56 years.
Government and military officials welcomed the surrender of the rebels in rites at Barangay Butong in Quezon town last Friday, the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID) said yesterday.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who led the ceremony, vowed continued assistance to the 189 rebels who initially received P5,000 in cash, 10 kilos of rice, and food packs during the ceremony.
The rebels turned in 72 assorted firearms, explosives, and other war materiel during their surrender, which was spearheaded by troops from the Army’s 89th Infantry Battalion, the 10th ID said.
“Your struggle ended not merely by laying down your arms, but by realizing that it was the wrong path, as the government has already addressed the reasons you took to the mountains,” said 10th ID commander Maj. Gen. Allan Hambala.
The 10th ID said the development delivered a “major blow to the operational capability of the North Central Mindanao Regional Command,” where the rebels belonged.
“The surrender of 189 former rebels brings Quezon closer to eradicating NPA presence and joining the eight insurgency-free municipalities in Bukidnon’s 3rd District,” the 10th ID also said.
Meanwhile, troops from the Army’s 76th Infantry Battalion seized an M16A1 rifle, a magazine and 18 rounds of ammunition from NPA rebels after a firefight in Baco town in Oriental Mindoro last Saturday.
The soldiers were conducting a combat operation in Barangay Mangmangyan 2 when they clashed with an unspecified number of insurgents, the Army’s 2nd ID said in a statement.
“No casualties were reported on the government side, while losses on the NPA side are still being verified,” the 2nd ID said, adding pursuit operations were ongoing as of yesterday.
