MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Another former New People’s Army cadre turned over a gun, ammunition, and explosives to the police and military officers in nearby Tarlac province on Tuesday, September 20.
Lt. Col. Franklin Estoro, force commander of the Tarlac police’s 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, said “Ka Atong” turned over the weapons after his formal surrender to authorities on the same day.
Estoro said the 53-year-old rebel returnee is from Capas town in Tarlac.
The former communist red fighter handed over a .45-caliber pistol, five live bullets, and two grenades to the police and Philippine Army.
On Monday, a 57-year-old woman who used to be an NPA guerilla surrendered and turned over a homemade shotgun and live shells to authorities in Tarlac.
In the City of San Fernando, Pampanga province, 12 former communist rebels who returned to the fold of the law received P20,000 each under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s sustainable livelihood program for rebel returnees.
The simple ceremony was held at the provincial capitol and led by Gov. Dennis Pineda and social welfare and development officials on Monday.
Pineda said nine other returnees in Pampanga are set to receive the same subsidy.