FOUR New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have surrendered to military authorities in the province of Sultan Kudarat, the military reported on Sunday, April 1.
The NPA rebels, who belong to the Guerilla Front 73 voluntarily surrendered to Lieutenant Colonel Jose Marie Santos, Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 (MBLT-2) commanding officer, on Wednesday in the village of Keytodak, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
They were identified as the following: Ariel Udas Apang, 29; Iyoy Lebeg Nayam, 31; Nicanor Nayam Apang, 38; Ariel Matog Apang, 36. They are from the village of Keytodak, Lebak and Sabanal village in Kalamansig.
Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, Western Mindanao Command information officer, said the surrender of the rebels was facilitated by Lebak Mayor Deonesio Besana and Keytodac Dulangan Manobo Elders.
Petinglay said they surrendered after realizing that their group no longer follows a clear direction and ideology making them dissatisfied of their leaders.
She said they turned over one caliber .30 M1 Carbine rifle, one 9-mm improvised Uzi, one fragmentation grenade, and two Improvised Explosive Devices.
Major General Arnel Dela Vega, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said they will continue to intensify the combat operations and intensify information disseminations to encourage those who are still with the rebel group to surrender and to give peace a chance.
“We will continue to welcome those who wish to embrace peace. The President’s guidance to immediately accept and process those who surrender is very clear,” Dela Vega said.
“As soldiers, it is also our fervent desire to have peaceful communities in the entire country, but if our enemies opt to fight, then we are very ready,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)