QUEZON CITY, Jan. 2 (PIA) -- Army officials lauded the decisions of four ranking New Peoples Army (NPA) to surrender in Oriental Mindoro last December 28.
“These series of surrenders across Southern Tagalog is a clear sign that the NPA is on the verge of irrecoverable defeat,” said 2nd Infantry Division Commander MGen Greg T. Almerol as he commended the actions of the NPA officers for abandoning terrorism and opted to have new lives this new year.
Members of Seventh-Day Adventist and Catholic Church assisted in the negotiation for the surrender of “Elsie” and “Justin”, an NPA squad commander and supply officer respectively in Brgy Benli, Bulalacao
Elsie and Justin were the ones wounded during the September 14 encounter versus government forces in Sitio Taboy-Taboy where female terrorist got killed.
Another NPA squad commander and supply officer respectively, Gilbert and Delia, surrendered recently in Brgy. Panaytayan, Mansalay town.
The four NPA officers were all Mangyans.
Local government units are working closely with the AFP and PNP to expedite the processing of the grants and benefits under rebel returnee programs.
Since 2019, more than 700 terrorists have already surrendered across Region 4 (Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions)
During his recent meeting with cabinet officials and medical experts, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte called on NPA members to return to the fold of the law.
The President said the communist terrorist NPA is now engaged in banditry and no longer pursuing good causes.
To those who will heed his call, the President said will be offered with the chance of having decent homes and livelihood training from TESDA. (LP/PIA)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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