New People’s Army (NPA) | INQUIRER.net file photo
LUCENA CITY – Three alleged members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), including a “revo-tax” collector, surrendered on Wednesday (Feb. 21) to government authorities in Quezon and Batangas provinces.
The Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion in Quezon reported that one alias “Kenjie” voluntarily submitted himself to Agdangan town Mayor Rhadam Aguilar on Wednesday morning in his capacity as chairman of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) and localized peace engagement committee.
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According to the report, the rebel returnee is a “finance officer” of the NPA Apolonio Mendoza Command tasked with collecting the so-called “revo tax” from contractors, businessmen and rich individuals in the province’s 3rd and 4th districts.
The rebel surrenderer said he wanted to be with his family after long years of involvement in the underground communist movement.
The former NPA rebel had no firearm when he surrendered.
Lt. Colonel Joel Jonson, 85th IB commander, welcomed the surrender of the former Red fighter.
He called on the remaining remnants of the NPA in the province to surrender and return to the fold of the law.
Quezon province was declared free from the influence of communist insurgents in June last year.
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In Batangas province, police reported the surrender of two NPA rebels – “Cinto” and “Paula,” both male Red fighters, in separate events in Batangas City and Nasugbu town.
The report said Cinto also turned over one caliber.38 revolver and a rifle grenade.
Both former communist guerrillas used to operate in different parts of the province.
The government authorities are preparing assistance for the former rebels in their reintegration protocol under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
A rebel returnee can avail himself of firearm remuneration and housing, medical care, loans, and legal assistance, among other forms of help from the government. INQ