2 NPA rebels yield to army in Kalinga

By Leander C. Domingo

PINUKPOK, Kalinga -- Two members of the New People's Army (NPA) surrendered with their firearms to the Philippine Army's 50th Infantry Battalion (50th IB) here last week.
    A report released Wednesday by the 5th Infantry Division’s (5th ID) Maj. Jekyll Julian Dulawan, 5th ID public affairs office chief, said the 50th IB identified the surrenderees as Alias Berto, 30 and Alias Ben, 29, both members of the Squad 1 of the Komiteng Larangang Guerilla-Ampis of Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee.
    Dulawan said Berto and Ben also surrendered an M14 rifle with two magazines and 15 ammunition, and a Cal. 30mm carbine with a magazine and seven ammunition.
    The 50th IB also reported it discovered four anti-personnel mines, three rifle grenade, and medical supplies including three anesthesia, six pieces syringe, three bandages, four intravenous fluids, dextrose and a set of surgical kit, as well as subversive documents in Balbalan town in the same province.
    Dulawan said the war materiel were brought to Barangay Salegseg in Bakbalan town in Kalinga for proper disposition.
Lt. Col. Melanio Somera, 50th IB commander, said the former rebels gave the information where these war materiel and medical supplies were kept, and commended the two communist rebels for surrendering to the Army.
    Brig. Gen. Santiago Enginco, 503rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the surrender of Berto and Ben which led to the discovery of the war materiel and medical supplies only proves the inhumane work of the NPA, adding that the use of anti-personnel mines is against international humanitarian law.
    "This time, we thwarted the terrorist group's plan to sow fear with the help of former rebels. The Army will not neglect the Cordillera region to protect the people against violence and harassment by members of the terrorist group," Enginco said.
    Maj. Gen. Laurence Mina, 5th ID commander, urged the remaining members of the terrorist group to surrender to the government.