Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Rebel, wife, and children surrender to Catmon councilor
TO HAVE peace in the family, a ranking rebel officer, his wife and two children surrendered to the Army last week.
Luciano Poro, 30, his wife Roselyn Murab, 24, and their children aged three and four were presented to Catmon Mayor Estrella Aribal yesterday.
Poro, former vice platoon commander of Front 2 of the New People’s Army, is from Amansol, Catmon. He had been with the NPA since 1998. Murab, of Magtagobtob, Danao City, joined the group in 1999.
In a radio dyLA interview, Poro admitted he was one of the rebels who raided an army detachment in Barangay Sumon, Tuburan in October last year. Killed in the raid were Sgt. Orlando Luna, Cpl. Bobby Oscar Licono and Pfc. Joseph Bingil, all of the 78th Infantry Battalion (IB).
After the attack, Poro and his family went into hiding in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
His brother Danilo contacted Catmon Councilor Victoriano Duran, who is also a rebel returnee, to arrange the surrender. Duran contacted the 78th IB.
Poro said he is very grateful that the military treated them well in custody.
Poro said he joined the group after believing it was the way for farmers to own land and solve the problems of the poor.
Murab, for her part, said she joined the group because she didn’t want to go to school and she was in love with Poro. The two met when Poro’s group went to their barangay to recruit members.
They announced to the group their relationship in October 2000. They were married in revolutionary rites in Canlusing, Tuburan on Jan. 17, 2002. A certain Commander Tonyo officiated the wedding.
Aribal said she will officiate a civil wedding for the couple, with 78th IB Commander Jess Alvarez as sponsor.
The Catmon Municipal Government will provide livelihood for the two. (MBG)
