2 NPA leaders surrender to army brass in Ilocos

By Freddie G. Lazaro

SANTA CRUZ, Ilocos Sur — Two ranking members of the New People’s Army surrendered to officers of the 81st Infantry Battallion last week.

Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, 81st IB commander, said the identities of the names of the NPA were withheld for security reasons.

“Through our persistent efforts, we were able to convince the NPA rebels to surrender,” said Osias.

Both surrenderees were team leader of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Guerilya (KLG) Montes that operates in the tri-boundaries of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur.

Both of them also turned over their firearms.

One of the surrenderees said that what drove him to surrender was the ‘purposeless’ battles and wars which have affected the lives of thousands of young people for the past five decades.

He added that the government’s development projects are now gaining momentum under the Duterte administration.

Osias said his unit will continue to advocate peaceful resolution of the internal security problem.

“Despite the on-going crisis in Mindanao, we will not cease our efforts in neutralizing the NPA rebels here in Northern Luzon in any way we could,” Osias said.