Army says 15 more NPA guerrillas surrender in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY—At least 15 more New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas operating in Albay province surrendered to the Philippine Army on Wednesday (May 5), according to the public affairs office of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division.

The rebels turned themselves in at the camp of the Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion in Ligao City, the Army division said.

The surrendered guerrillas were presented in a ceremony by Col. Jaime Abawag Jr., commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade, in the Army camp at the village of Tastas, according to Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th ID public affairs office chief.

Belleza said six of those who surrendered were regular NPA members, three were militia members and six were organizers operating in Albay.

The guerrillas yielded assault rifles and handguns.

Earlier on Tuesday, 15 NPA guerrillas also surrendered in Milagros town, Masbate province.

The Army said the latest surrenders brought to 141 the total number of communist rebels who had returned to the folds of the law in the Bicol region in 2021.

TSB