DAVAO CITY – Two communist rebels have surrendered to the military in North Cotabato’s Magpet town in southern Philippines, an army spokesman said on Tuesday.
Capt. Alberto Caber, of the Eastern Mindanao Command, the two rebels – Marco Via, 39, and his wife Gina Calimpitan, 34, – surrendered to the 57th Infantry Battalion on October 13 and were being investigated as part of a routine procedure.
He said the couple, who were recruited by the New People’s Army in the province, thanked members of the 57th Infantry Battalion for their safe return to the folds of the law.
“Joining the Communist Party of the Philippines and (its armed wing) the New People’s Army is a very big mistake we have committed in our lives, with the soldier’s help, this is a second chance for us to redeem our normal lives that were denied to us by the NPA after having fooled us to join their group through sweet promises (sic),” Caber quoted the duo as saying.
He said more than 400 rebels have surrendered to the Eastern Mindanao Command since April last year.
Caber said Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, commended the 57th Infantry Battalion for facilitating the surrender of the couple.
“Continuous NPA’s deception, harassment and attack to civilians and civilian properties prompted many of their members to leave the CPP-NPA. Not only our soldiers, but every concerned LGUs (local government units), PNP (Philippine National Police) and CSOs (civil society organizations) are very much willing to help them in their return to the folds of the law (sic),” Baladad said.
The NPA has been fighting for decades now for a separate state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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