65 Reds surrender in Sorsogon

CASTILLA, Sorsogon –– Active members of local rebel groups surrendered in Castilla town in Sorsogon province on Wednesday, the military said on Thursday.

Major General Fernando Trinidad, commander of the military’s 9th Infantry Division, said out of 65 rebels, 38 were regular New People’s Army (NPA) members, 25 were members of local armed group Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad and two were from the Milisyang Bayan, all of Larangan 1,
Komiteng Probinsya 3 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.

The rebels also surrendered two carbines, six M16 rifles, two caliber .45 pistols, two improvised explosive devices, two Molotov bombs, six VHF radios, assorted ammunition, and magazines for high-powered firearms.

“We consider the event one of the significant accomplishments of the intensified Community Support Program (CSP) of the Philippine Army,” Trinidad said.

He added that the CSP teams were deployed in different conflict-affected villages to identify the services the residents needed and at the same time discourage them from joining or supporting the NPA.

Col. Noe Alberto Peñafiel, commanding officer of 903rd IB, said rebel returnees would be immediately enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

They would be given livelihood and housing assistance as well as payment for the firearms./lzb