New People’s Army (NPA) | INQUIRER.net file photo
LUCENA CITY—The military announced Thursday, July 14, that at least nine New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered Wednesday with their firearms in Infanta town in Quezon province.
The Army’s 2nd Infantry Division reported on its Facebook page that the rebels turned themselves to the 1st Infantry Battalion in Infanta. The identities of the rebels, who reportedly operated in northern Quezon, were withheld.
The alleged rebels turned over an M16 assault rifle with two magazines and 58 bullets, an M1 Garand Rifle and 10 bullets, a caliber .45 pistol loaded with eight bullets, and a shotgun with three bullets.
Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Escandor, 1st IB commander, said the recent surrenders were proof that the rebels were experiencing hardship.
The military and other government agencies will assist the surrenderers in their reintegration with free medical treatment, education, housing, and legal aid.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported last week that the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, was down to 2,000, with active guerrilla fronts down to just 23 during the Duterte administration.
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