A NEW People’s Army (NPA) political instructor surrendered to the military in Oras town in Eastern Samar and later led troops in the recovery of four firearms and four anti-personnel mines.
The AFP’s Visayas Command (Viscom) said the NPA official, from the NPA’s Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda of Front 3, yielded last Sunday to the Army’s 52nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Dao, Oras.
It said the NPA leader turned over a cal. 45 pistol during his surrender.
For “security reasons,” the military withheld the identity of the NPA leader who it said surrendered “following a successful localized peace engagement in Eastern Samar.
“Upon his surrender, the former rebel revealed to the troops the presence of an arms cache in the vicinity of Barangay Agsaman in Jipapad, Eastern Samar,” Viscom said.
Soldiers later went to the site and retrieved two AK47 rifles, an M14 rifle, a shotgun, four anti-personnel mines, and assorted ammunition.
Viscom commander Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo said localized peace engagements with NPA rebels have hurt the rebel group, in the same way as the military’s combat operations.
“This incessant peace initiative hurts the terrorist group as much as our focused military operations, as it further demoralized their ranks and significantly contribute to degrading their manpower and armed capability,” said Arevalo.
Arevalo urged other NPA rebels in Visayas “to respond to our government’s pursuit to attain just and lasting peace in the Visayas.”
“Lay down your arms, abandon your armed struggle, and return to the folds of the law. We assure you of our support and assistance, for you to live a peaceful and progressive life with your family,” he said.
