NPA rebel yields in Occidental Mindoro

CITY OF CALAPAN – A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to authorities in a military operation in Sablayan town in Occidental Mindoro province on Sunday night, police said Monday.

The surrenderer led authorities to a place where five high-powered firearms were hidden.

Supt.  Imelda Tolentino, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) police information officer, identified the surrenderer as alias “Saba,” 33, a resident of Barangay Canwaling, San Jose town, also in Occidental Mindoro.

A special operation led by 1Lt Howell Jason Kirby Buhion, intelligence officer of the Army’s 76th Infantry Battalion, took in Saba who surrendered with his loaded M14 rifle in Purok (zone) Mamburao, Sitio (sub-village) Culasisi in Barangay Batong Buhay around 6 p.m. Sunday.

Saba told authorities about a buried container which has five M16 rifles that soldiers and police found in Culasisi.

The guns were taken by the 76IB for proper disposition./lb