Cordillera NPA leader surrenders in La Union

By Jun Elias 

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union – A suspected New People’s Army leader surrendered to authorities here Tuesday.

The surrender of the man identified only as Ka Omar, 33, came following a series of negotiations conducted by police and military agents and local officials.

Omar was picked up in Tabuk City in Kalinga by a team led by Supt. Eduardo Danguecan, chief of the La Union police intelligence unit.

He brought with him his firearm, an M14 Armalite.

Omar joined the communist movement in 1997 and was appointed assistant team leader of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla operating in the Cordillera, according to Senior Supt. Ange-lito Dumangeng, La Union police director.

Dumangeng said Omar decided to leave the movement because of the difficult life in the mountains.

The rebel-returnee was met by Abono party-list Rep. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, who assured him of his security. 

Ortega hailed Omar for deciding to yield in La Union, noting it affirmed the province’s peace and order situation.