NPA reb surrenders with guns to Army

CAMP DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela – A Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army member, voluntarily surrendered with high powered firearms and other war materials to negotiators of the 5th Civil Military Operations Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army last March 19r.

The Army identified the surrendered rebel only as Ka Mario, 37, resident of Lubuagan, Kalinga and listed in the Army’s order of battle as belonging to Larangang Yunit Guerilla, KLG Baggas.

Ka Mario voluntarily surrendered one M16 rifle with defaced serial number, one M14 rifle with defaced serial number, one hand grenade, one smoke grenade and one claymore mine with blasting cap and detonating cord.

At the peak of his five years in the armed communist movement, he was designated as member of the Semi-Legal Team of the CPP/NPA operating in the Municipalities of Pasil particularly at Barangay Uma of Lubuagan and Mabaca of Balbalan, all of Kalinga Province.

He claimed that from the year 2005 until he surrendered, he concentrated on organizing works in their area of operation.

Col. Loreto C. Magundayao Jr, commanding officer of 5CMOBn, said the surrender of the rebel was motivated by his desire to live a normal life with his family and the difficulty he encountered as a member of the underground movement.

Magundayao added the negotiators of his unit including 21st Infantry Battalion, 5ID, Pa and 3rd Light Armor Brigade helped in convincing the rebel to surrender.

He formally presented the rebel returnee to the newly promoted commander of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, Maj, Gen. Rommel A. Gomez (AFP) at this camp.

Gomez assured Ka Mario he will receive financial and livelihood assistance and other benefits under the social integration program of the government.