A NEW People’s Army (NPA) rebel, abandoned by his comrades, decided to surrender to the government troops in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the military said Saturday, April 4.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the NPA surrenderer as Almadin Dela Torre, 20, who turned over one M16A1 assault rifle with four magazines and 80 rounds of live ammunition.
Sobejana said Dela Torre, whose aliases are Ka Ariel and Ka Nike, surrendered Friday to the troops of the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion headed by Lieutenant Colonel Don Templonuevo in the village of Balagon, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Sobejana said said Dela Torre, who was was 16 years old when recruited in 2016, became a member of the Guerilla Front–Feleciano A of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC).
He said Dela Torre decided to surrender when he was abandoned by his comrades after their attempt to harass 44th IB troops Wednesday in Balagon, Siay.
The troops were resting in Barangay Balagon after conducting visitation and information dissemination on the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in far-flung areas when the NPA attacked them that triggered a 20-minute firefight.
The troops repelled the attackers and on the next day they have recovered the remains of a slain NPA rebels during the conduct of clearing operation.
Major General Generoso Ponio, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, said they will facilitate the enrollment of Dela Torre to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and assist him in his return to the mainstream society.
Ponio said Dela Torre will receive benefits such as immediate cash assistance, livelihood assistance, a remuneration for the surrendered firearm and other aids coming from the different national government agencies. (SunStar Zamboanga)