NPA head, radioman surrender to Army

By Freddie Lazaro

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Two New People’s Army rebels have yielded separately to elements of the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion at Barangay Antipolo, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija and in Bulacan on Monday, according to Maj. Gen. Lenard T. Agustin, the commander of the Seventh Infantry Division (7ID).

Agustin said one of the rebel surrenderers was a squad leader of the NPA’s Platoon Dos of Komiteng Larangang Gerilya (KLG) Sierra Madre while the other one was a radioman of NPA’s Platoon 3 operating in Bulacan.

He cited the joint efforts of the army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) covering the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora for the voluntary and peaceful surrender of the two NPA members.

Agustin said that all line units of the Kaugnay division, which include the 91st IB, will continue to welcome surrenderers and assist them in availing of government benefits so that they could start a new life.

It can be recalled that the 7ID was among the divisions that recorded a high turnout of rebel and rebel supporter surrenderers in 2019. It recorded 1,003 NPA rebels and rebels’ supporters’ surrenderers from its different line units from the provinces in Ilocos region and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, commander of the 91st IB, said that two rebel returnees are now at their headquarters in Barangay Calabuanan, Baler, Aurora for the routine interviews and documentation.

“The surrender is still the effect of the ‘whole-of-nation approach,” Rubio said.

Rubio assured everyone that the Army will continue to work hand-in-hand with the police counterparts and other government agencies to ensure the safe and fair treatment of all local terrorists who are thinking of putting their trust, once more, to the government.