SIX New People's Army (NPA) rebels have voluntarily surrendered to government forces the past few days this week in the province of Sarangani, a military official said Friday.

Lieutenant Colonel Ronnie Babac of the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion identified the NPA surrenderees only through their aliases as Dindin, 19; Lovely, 18; Junex, 19; Arman, 19; Noli, 18; and, Micheal, 22.

Babac said the real identities of the NPA surrenderees are withheld for security reasons.

Babac said Dindin, Lovely, and Junex surrendered to his personnel in Malapatan while the others in Alabel, both in Sarangani province.

He said the NPA surrenderees decided to yield due to hardship brought about by the relentless security operations by the government troops.

He said they are now facilitating for the processing of appropriate livelihood and other necessary assistance to be given to the surrenderees through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program from the Sarangani Provincial Government.

Meanwhile, Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief Aurelio Baladad said the surrender of the six rebels has brought to a total of 134 NPA rebels since January this year within the area of responsibility of Eastmincom.

Baladad has commended the soldiers of 73rd Infantry Battalion for facilitating the safe surrender of the six NPA members.

"It is the AFP's strong desire to help NPA members return to the folds of the law for them to start a new life and become productive citizens in their communities," Baladad said. (Bong Garcia)