Rebel surrenders, leads authorities to hidden NPA arms cache in Quezon

LUCENA CITY — An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) militia unit surrendered to the government and led state security forces to a cache of firearms hidden by communist insurgents in Gumaca town in Quezon province on Saturday morning (December 3).

Police Major Rodelio Calawit, commander of the Quezon 2nd police mobile force company, said Venerando Cereza, alias “Ka Ginel,” turned himself in to police and elements of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion based in Gumaca town.

“His surrender was the result of continuous negotiations,” Calawit said in a phone interview.

The rebel returnee then led the police and soldiers to the location of NPA’s hidden weapons in Barangay (village) Laguna. The report did not specify the exact time of surrender and confiscation of the weapons.

The government forces recovered two M14 rifles, one Garand rifle, five caliber .38 revolvers, one rifle grenade, magazines, 64 bullets, and assorted bomb-making paraphernalia.

Calawit said the rebel returnee operated in Quezon province’s 3rd and 4th districts.

On Thursday, December 1, another NPA rebel also surrendered to the police in Gen. Nakar town in the northern part of the province.

The former Red-fighter, who used to operate in the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Northern Quezon section of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges, turned over a caliber .38 revolver, bullets, and communist documents.

The military and other government agencies will assist the surrenderers in their reintegration into society with free medical treatment, education, housing, and legal aid under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

READ: Army finds arms cache believed left by NPA in Albay town