96 rebel supporters yield (5:36 p.m.)
NINETY-six mass base supporters of the communist group New People’s Army (NPA) have surrendered to the operatives of the Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion (IB) in three separate incidents in Eastern Samar, a military spokesman reported Saturday.
Army spokesman Romeo Brawner said the first incident was on May 13 where 49 NPA supporters from Barangay Cagtoong in Oras, Eastern Samar headed by barangay chairman Joel Mejica surrendered to the said troops.
Brawner said the second incident was on the same day where 17 communist supporters from Barangay Capili also in Oras headed by barangay chairman Rufo Madeja surrendered.
Another 30 communist supporters from Barangay Gamot of same municipality headed by barangay chairman Arnulfo Oros surrendered to the same Army unit, said Brawner.
“The surrenderees are now executing their affidavits for the filing of appropriate charges against the NPA rebels operating in the area in coordination with the local PNP (Philippine National Police),” said Brawner, quoting reports from the field.
“This surrender is a manifestation that the communist movement is losing support from its mass base. With the relentless surrender and neutralization of NPA members and their guerilla fronts coupled with continuous operations of government troops, it is not impossible to reduce the NPA rebels into an insignificant number in 2010,” he said. (VR/Sunnex)
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