Two veteran NPA fighters surrender in Mt Province

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Two New People’s Army veteran fighters turned in their firearms and surrendered to authorities here and Sadanga town last week.

Fermin “Jet” Quidlayen, 43, married, vice-squad leader of the NPA’s KLG Marco Command surrendered to elements of the 53rd MICO,  503rd , 54th , 50th, 77th infantry brigades and police here at Sitio Patay, Poblacion Oct. 3.

Quidlayen turned in a 5.56mm M16 assault rifle with magazine with 13 bullets.

On the same date, Benny “Tubay” Wadwadan, 47 another NPA veteran fighter surrendered at Barangay Belwang, Sadanga.

He also turned in a M16 assault rifle with magazine.

Both surrenderes were brought to headquarters of   53ICO at Barangay Calanan, Tabuk City, Kalinga for debriefing.

Army authorities said both can avail of benefits under Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) for rebel surrenderees.

In Camp Dela Cruz, Gamu, Isabela, Brig. Gen. Henry M. Doyaoen, commander of the army’s 503rd Infantry Brigade, said joint efforts of t army units and police to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) led to the voluntary surrender of the two.

Doyaoen cited personnel involved for their successful negotiation leading to the surrender of “Jet” and “Tuday.”

Last week, two NPA rebels voluntarily surrendered to the army’s 95th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Dibuluan, San Mariano, Isabela.

The two NPA rebels were identified only as “Marvin” and “Robin” who are members of the Central Front Committee, Komiteng Rehiyon- Cagayan Valley (KR-CV) of the NPA.

Maj. Gen. Pablo M. Lorenzo, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, commended troops for their efforts in achieving peace and urged NPA guerillas in hinterlands to lay down their arms and join program of the government.

Earlier on Oct. 6, former NPA platoon leader, Alex Tongdo alias Ka Diwa gave himself up in Camp Duyan, Tabuk City, Kalinga, despite facing two warrants of arrest issued by Judge Neljoe A. Cortez of RTC, Branch 25, Tabuk City for attempted murder and four counts of attempted murder.

He surrendered his arms cache consisting of a 7.62mm M60 machine gun without ammunition, two 60-mm mortars with three mortar ammunition, four shotguns and ammunition. – With a report from Freddie Lazaro