Army: 16 Reds yield in Southern Tagalog

LUCENA CITY –– At least 16 alleged communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered this week to government authorities in Southern Tagalog.

In a press statement issued Saturday (March 28), Captain Jayrald Ternio, head of the public affairs office of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said the latest surrenders took place in Macalelon, Quezon and Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro on Friday.

Ternio said one alias “Mark,” reportedly a ranking NPA leader in Quezon’s Bondoc Peninsula district turned himself to Barangay Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in the village of Malabahay, Macalelon.

He also surrendered one caliber.30 M1 Garand rifle.

A report said the surrender in Sablayan of former rebels, “Jess” and “Lenny”, alleged guerrilla platoon leader and political guide respectively, was facilitated by town Mayor Andres Dangeros.

On Tuesday, 13 former Red fighters also formally surrendered to the military base in Cavinti town in Laguna.

The identities of the surrenders are being withheld as part of the security protocol to prevent possible retaliation from their former comrades, Ternio said.

The rebel returnees are offered livelihood financing, scholarships, housing, and free legal assistance through the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-Clip.

Edited by LZB