6 alleged NPA ‘people’s militia’ surrender in Occidental Mindoro

LUCENA CITY — At least six alleged “militia ng bayan” (MB) or “people’s militia” of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Occidental Mindoro province surrendered to the military on Thursday.

Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban, public affairs chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (ID), based in Tanay, Rizal, said the rebel’s militia or supporters of the communist guerrillas voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 76th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio (sub-village) Kabilugan and  Kalinyawan, both in Barangay (village) San Vicente, Abra de Ilog town.

Lt. Col. Mario Lito Retirva, commander of 76th IB, identified the rebel returnees by their aliases: “Bugo”, “Siri”, “Rustom”, “Buho”, “Pedro” and alias “Dos”. He tagged the surrenderers as “the NPA’s eyes and ears” against government troops in the village.

“They also served as NPA force multipliers and they operate together with the NPA regular members when the group needs additional personnel to conduct atrocities such as raid, ambush, sniping and extortions,” Retirva said in a statement on Friday.

Maj. Gen. Rhoderick M. Parayno, commander of the 2nd ID, reiterated his appeal to the remaining communist guerrillas to surrender and return to their respective families.

“If they want to be with their families and live peaceful, normal and productive lives, to just return to the fold of the law. I guarantee their safety and I’ll make sure that they receive all the benefits due them offered by the government,” Parayno said.

Since the start of this year, at least 34 alleged NPA members have already surrendered to the Army’s 2nd ID, according to Retumban. /kga