A NEW People’s Army (NPA) leader and two female rebels, including his wife, surrendered days after their group clashed with government troops in Bukidnon.
The Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID) announced yesterday the surrender of the three, led by Marjun Otag, 34, a resident of Kitaotao, Bukidnon.
Otag, who carries the aliases Dante, Egale, and Bukol, is the leader of Squad 2 under the NPA’s Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad Peddler of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.
Also surrendering were Otag’s wife, Nelly Erespi Otag, 20, a medic of the NPA squad: and Emmely Banahan, 18, who has a wound in her left leg.
The three surrendered last Sunday to personnel of the Army’s 1003rd Brigade in Barangay Kahusayan in Kataotao, said 10th ID spokesman Maj. Mark Anthony Tito.
Tito said the three surrendered after troops from the 48th, 27th and 73rd infantry battalions conducted intensified focused operations in the town that led to encounters last December 27 and 29.
Brig. Gen. Allan Hambala, 10th ID commander, welcomed the surrender of the three insurgents, saying: “Let us give peace a chance. We should shun violence to solve our country’s problems and unite and collaborate to address the root causes of insurgency, aiming for just and lasting peace.”
Banahan was given first aid by soldiers. The military coordinated with concerned authorities for further medical assistance.
