INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LUCENA CITY — Two alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered Tuesday, May 23, with their firearms to Army soldiers in Lopez town in Quezon province.
In a report, the Quezon police said the rebel returnees, Jeffrey Abig, 27, and Valian Palenzuela, 51, surrendered at 8:10 p.m. to the Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion in Barangay San Rafael after negotiations with local government officials.
The report said the two former rebels turned over a carbine with 11 bullets, a .45 pistol with two bullets, a .38 revolver with seven bullets, a homemade shotgun with 15 bullets, and a hand grenade.
The police said the returnees were members of the NPA unit in Quezon.
The authorities are preparing the necessary assistance for the returnees in their reintegration protocols under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).
E-Clip offers free medical treatment, education, housing, and legal aid to rebel surrenderers.
Each returnee can receive cash aid and other benefits to help them and their families start new lives. INQ
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