BACOLOD CITY—The military announced the surrender of eight alleged communist rebels to government soldiers at a village in Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental province on Sunday (Nov. 8).
Capt. Raymond Jamisal, of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion, said one of those who surrendered was a regular member of New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of Communist Party of the Philippines, while the rest were members of an NPA militia that rebels were using as reinforcement in tactical offensives.
The NPA militia members were equipped with low-caliber firearms but are tasked with monitoring movement and activities of government forces.
The Army identified the regular NPA member as a certain Ka RR and the seven NPA militiamen as Romeo Barbaquil, Allan Alpas Estrada, Marlou Estrada, Reynaldo Delantes, Mariano Libaton, Arlita Jabalde and Bernaldo Besario.
Ka RR surrendered a .38 caliber revolver with bullets. The others who surrendered gave up the same firearms, at least two .357 caliber revolvers and bullets.
Jamisal said at least 43 regular NPA members, militia men and supporters had surrendered in Guihulngan since last August.