4 female NPA rebs, recruited by Balweg yield

By Mar T. Supnad

LAOAG CITY -- Combined elements of Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Station and 24th Infantry Battalion of Joint Task Force Kaugnay facilitated the surrender of four communist guerillas at Marcos and Carasi town police stations in Ilocos Norte, the army reported Tuesday.
    Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., Commander of Northern Luzon Command said, “the PNP and the military’s support programs and information drives regarding the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) urged the four     surrenderees to return to the folds of the law.
    Joint Task Group Defender Commander Brig. Gen. Krishnamurti Mortela,  identified the four female personalities as Ligaya,  Teresa, Elvie and Marinel who also surrendered a M14 Rifle, US Remington 03-03 and a shotgun.
    “Ligaya, a native of Pidigan, Abra who resides in Marcos, said she was a trained gun handler of the communist group and surrendered with her a shotgun locally known as "baggor" at the Marcos police station while Teresa and Elvie, both natives of Ilocos Norte were trained paramedics of the group.
     Teresa and Elvie surrendered with Marinel at the Carasi police station.
    The surrenderees said they were recruited during the time of renegade Catholic priest Conrado Balweg but have lain low upon realizing that the government was trying to end to the communist insurgency through the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach.
    Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Kaugnay commander Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo lauded the accomplishments of the PNP and the military.

    He attributes the gains of their peace campaigns to their effective and efficient teamwork with their police counterparts, local government units and the public.