13 alleged NPA rebels surrender in Batangas

LUCENA CITY – At least 13 alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have surrendered to the military, according to a report from the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) on Thursday.

Col. Danilo Benavidez, Solcom public information officer, said 12 of those who surrendered were fighters from Communist Party of the Philippines-Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) operating in Batangas and Cavite provinces.

One was from the Tarlac-Zambales guerrilla front.

Police withheld the identities of the former rebels for security reasons, Benavidez said.

The rebels formalized their return to the fold of law when they took their “oath of allegiance” to the government during a ceremony in Tanauan, Batangas on August 14, he added.

The returnees turned over two M16 rifles, one AK47 rifle, one M79 rifle, four caliber .45 pistols, one .38 revolver and one .9-mm pistol.

The former guerrillas also enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

Under the E-Clip, an NPA surrenderee can immediately receive P15,000 cash assistance and P50,000 livelihood assistance.

The former rebels can also avail of firearms remuneration and housing, medical, loans, and legal assistance among other forms of help from the government.

In a press statement, Benavidez said one of the returnees held a high position in the NPA.

“It was two decades waste of time and opportunities. Many of our comrades lost their lives in fighting and we also lost some of our families,” the alleged rebel leader for almost 21 years, said in a statement.