Thursday, September 20, 2007 NPA leader surrenders in Asuncion By Ben O. Tesiorna
A YOUNG main claiming to be a front committee leader of the New People's Army (NPA) surrendered to the authorities Monday after 10 years of fighting the government in the mountains.
Raymund Lupe Subla, 22, surrendered to 1st Lieutenant Ricky Mercado of the Philippine Army's 60th Infantry Battalion.
The military said Subla joined the rebels when he was still 12 years old.
The surrender was made at Barangay Del Monte in Asuncion, Davao del Norte. The rebel leader also turned over one M60 machinegun, one M16, one rocket-propelled grenade, one claymor mine and ammunitions of 40mm rifle grenade, some medical paraphernalia and subversive documents.
Lieutenant Colonel Rolly Bautista, spokesman of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, said Subla will be compensated for the high-powered firearms he surrendered to the authorities through the government's Balik Baril program.
Subla, alias Kumander Alvin and a lumad, said he surrendered after experiencing the unfair treatment by the NPA leaders against lumad members of their group.
"Ginagamit lang daw sila to the point na pati kultura nila nasisira at naaapektuhan na. Pati ancestral domain nila, di na daw sa kanila kundi sa NPA na (They were allegedly being used to the point that their culture is affected. Their ancestral domain also now belongs to the NPA," Bautista said.
He said Subla told them that some of his members also intend to surrender soon.
