MORE NEWS, AURORA

4 more NPAs yield in Aurora
By Mar T. Supnad

FORT MAGSAYSAY, PALAYAN CITY – Four more members of the New People’s Army’s “Central Platun Aurora” surrendered to Lt. Col. Elias H Escarcha, Battalion Commander, 48th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division at Baler, Aurora, bringing to 21 the total number of rebels yielded for the past few days in Aurora, Army officials bared.

Commanding Officer of 702nd Infantry Brigade Brig. Gen. Emmanuel T Bautista, in his report to commander of 7th Infantry Division, Army Maj. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, identified surrenderees as: Jericho Estevez aka Allan; Arman Dela Cruz aka Sam, Placido Campos; Alvin and Jilly Boy Villaflor aka Ariel.

They reportedly escaped from their comrades and sought the help of religious sector members of San Luis, Aurora who in turn sought the help of Gen. Villanueva for their protection.

Maj. Charlemagne Batayola, public information officer, said the rebels decided to come down from the hills because they cannot bear anymore hardship of life at the mountain with their comrades and relentless military operations of government forces.

The surrenderees are now undergoing custodial debriefing at 48IB Headquarters.

Earlier, 17 former rebels surrendered to the Army in Aurora. The government through the AFP is reportedly implementing the Social Integration Program, an alternative program for rebels to live a normal life.