2 NPA members surrender in Occidental Mindoro

CITY OF CALAPAN — Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the Philippine Army in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro on Wednesday.

Maj. Roderick Depolonia, civil-military operations officer of the Army’s 203rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, said in a statement that the NPA members “voluntarily surrendered with their M16 rifles.”

The surrender also led to the recovery of four more high powered firearms at Barangay (village) Batongbuhay in the same town.

Lt. Col. Mario Lito Retirva, commanding officer of the 76th Infantry Battalion, confirmed that the surrenderers were members of Platoon Falcon operating in the northern areas of Occidental Mindoro, but he refused to divulge the names for security reasons.

The two surrenderers claimed they have been active in the NPA in the last three years.

On October 28, an NPA leader from the same group also surrendered to the 76th IB with his M14 rifle. Five M16 rifles were also recovered.

The two surrenderers have already applied for Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which gives financial and livelihood assistance to former communist rebels who returned to the fold of the law. /je