16 NPA guerillas surrender to army

By Mar T. Supnad

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City — Sixteen suspected members of the New People’s Army surrendered to Army troopers of the 702nd Infantry Brigade of the Army’s Seventh Infantry Division under Brig. Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista.

Maj. Charlemagne Batayola, information officer, said that the surrender was held during simple rites at the Aurora Provincial Capitol last week, where 7th ID chief Maj. Gen Ralph A. Villenueva presented to Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, local officials, and members of the media the 16 rebels.

General Villanueva identified some of the surrenderees as Lucio Omania, alias “Usting,” with his two sons Roland and Rex; couple Marvin and Maricel Bitong; uncle and nephew Wilfredo Mabunga, alias “Aloy,” and Darwin Laberiano, alias “Eryo;” and minor Jerlyn Aligato, alias “Mercy.”

The other surrenderees include five tribal members and three others. They were all members of the NPA units operating at the boundaries of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, and Nueva Vizcaya.

The surrenderees brought with them five high-powered firearms —three M-16 armalite rifles, one M-653 baby armalite, and one carbine rifle.

Governor Angara assured the former rebels of livelihood assistance from the provincial government. Scholarship grants will also be given to some of them.

Major Batayola said the former rebels ran away when they had the chance to escape from their cadres during a massive military operation.