Alleged NPA member surrenders in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) has surrendered to a village leader in Las Navas town, Northern Samar.

Captain Valben Almirante, spokesperson of the 803rd Infantry Brigade based in Catarman, also in Northern Samar, identified the former communist rebel as JR Jarito, who carried the alias of “Ka Papay” when he was still a member of the communist group.

Almirante said the former rebel surrendered to Marivic Jepollo, village chairwoman of Rizal on Feb. 28.

Jarito, according to the Army officer, was a member of the Squad 3 of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) Platoon of Front Committee 1, Sub-Regional Committee “Emporium” of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, Communist Party of the Philippines under Acer Torsido which operates in the Silvino Lubos – Las Navas – Pambujan areas.

Jarito also surrendered a firearm.

Almirante said that the former rebel joined the communist armed group in 2001 but decided to surrender due to the intense campaign of government forces in the area and  to live peacefully.

The former rebel was turned over to the 20th Infantry Battalion, which is based in Las Navas, and is expected to receive livelihood and financial assistance from the government through its Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and the local integration program of the provincial government of Northern Samar.

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