DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 22, 2013) – Six members of the New People’s Army have surrendered to the military in the southern Philippines, where security forces are battling the communist rebel group, officials said Thursday.
Officials said five of those who yielded were facilitated by the so-called “peace and development” teams of the 10th Infantry Division under Major General Ariel Bernardo, while the other surrendered through the effort of the 4th Infantry Division headed by Brigadier General Ricardo Visaya.
Three of those who surrendered were identified as Dike Espinosa, Levy Pugoso and Ronnie Tiguasan, who was a team leader of the NPA. They also handed over their weapons to the military in exchange for government amnesty and aid.
“All of them narrated the hardship they experienced with the armed group with false hopes and promises, and this had led to their surrender which was assisted by local government officials,” an army statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner said.
“We are sincere in our call for peace and we are very much thankful that the local government units are supportive with our efforts by directly assisting those who wish to surrender,” said Lieutenant General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command.
Cruz also said that any individual or organization can help facilitate or assist those they know who wish to surrender peacefully.
“We also encouraged everybody to be an advocate of peace. You can help in saving not only lives but also the souls of our misguided brothers by convincing them to live a peaceful life with their families other than allowing them die in vain because of false promises by the communists,” he said.
Cruz said some 147 rebels have surrendered to the military since early this year. (Mindanao Examiner)
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