TEN members of the communist terrorist New People's Army (NPA) have surrendered to government authorities in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, a top police official announced.

Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, said they surrendered around 1 p.m. Monday, August 23, in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur.

Ylagan did not release the identities of the NPA surrenderers for security reasons but said they were officers and members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, a front organization of the NPA's Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.

He said they surrendered through the concerted effort of police and military authorities, as well as the Molave Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-Elcac).

He said the surrenderers took their oath of allegiance before Molave Mayor Cyril Reo Glepa, the MTF-Elcac chairperson, and Police Colonel Roel Lami-Ing, Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office director.

He said they were placed under the custody of the Municipal Government for further community reintegration. (SunStar Zamboanga)