7 alleged NPA rebels surrender in Occidental Mindoro

LUCENA CITY – Seven alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels operating in Occidental Mindoro have surrendered to the military, according to a report from the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) on Sunday.

Colonel Danilo Benavidez, Solcom public information officer, said the communist guerillas voluntarily turned themselves to the Army’s 4^th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division based in Barangay (village) Murtha in San Jose town on August 10.

The report identified the alleged surrenderers as Brandon, Noli, Jose, Boy, Joel – all surnamed Barera – Andeg Carias, and Eliw Guardian. Jose, Boy, and Joel are siblings while Brandon is Boy’s son, and Noli is the son of Joel.

The Army officials in Occidental Mindoro presented the former NPA rebels to San Jose Mayor Romulo Festin and the head of the local social welfare and development office to provide them with the necessary government assistance.

“We provided them the assistance to facilitate their enrollment to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program to provide them with full benefits that include livelihood, employment and shelter,” Lt. Colonel Dennis Gutierrez, commander of the Army’s 41st IB, said in the report.

Lieutenant General Danilo Pamonag, Solcom commander, said he is optimistic that more NPA rebels will surrender.

“They now realize the futility of armed struggle and aim to live a normal life in the community with the support of the government,” he said in a statement. /je