AN ALLEGED member of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the authorities in Isabela, Negros Occidental on Sunday, March 24.
Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) of the Philippine Army, said a female NPA member surfaced before the 62nd IB and also surrendered two high-powered firearms: a carbine M1 with two magazines, and a 12-gauge shotgun. She also turned over a rifle grenade.
She was recruited from a Kabataang Makabayan (Pamatan-on) to a party branch member.
She was a former medical officer of Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad in the clustered sitios in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.
This only shows that our left-hand and right-hand efforts are effective, Arevalo said, who reiterated the continuous efforts of the armed forces to go after these rebels.
For his part, Lieutenant Egberto Dacoscos, commander of the 62nd IB, in a press statement said, “The armed struggle has only brought sufferings, death and misery to our people.”
He urged other rebels to lay down their arms and return to the comfort of their families and friends.
Stop using violence for the sake of nonsense revolution, he said.
“Live peacefully and take advantage of the government’s integration program because it will provide you with an opportunity to have a peaceful life in the communities and together we will solve our problems in a peaceful way,” he added.
The 62nd IB in a press release said the Communist Party of the Philippines- NPA - National Democratic Front (NDF) is now desperate, especially after the apprehension of Francisco “Frank” Fernandez, an NDF consultant and spokesperson of NDF- Negros on March 24 in Barangay Calumpang, Liliw, Laguna, along with his wife Cleofe Lagtapon, alleged deputy regional secretary for education of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros-Cebu Bohol Siquijor.
This is a clear manifestation and sign that this terrorist group is now facing its downfall, the local military said.
The 62nd IB has a total of seven qualified former rebels who will soon avail themselves of the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program with an additional three to be enrolled in the said government program.