ANOTHER two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have surrendered to military authorities in the province of Sultan Kudarat, officials announced Friday, November 19, 2021.
Major General Alfredo Rosario, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), withheld the identities of the two NPA surrenderers except in saying they belong to the SDG Platoon (Cherry Mobile) of the Sub-Regional Committee Daguma Far South Mindanao Region.
Rosario said they surrendered Wednesday, November 17, to the Community Support Program (CSP) team and intelligence operatives of the 37th Infantry Battalion in Tibpuan village, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat. They handed over Garand and Carbine rifles.
Major General Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central commander, commended the troops of the 37th Infantry Battalion (IB) for their laudable accomplishments particularly in bringing the misled members of the society back to the bright side.
“We have gained their trust and most of them are now willing to abandon their armed struggle. We attribute this success to our partners and stakeholders,” Uy said.
It can be recalled that on November 9, four members of the same group yielded to the 37IB.
Lieutenant Colonel Allen Van Estrera, 37IB commander, said the series of community support programs conducted together with other government and private organizations convinced the former rebels to return to the folds of the law.
Since January, the JTF-Central has reported a total of 143 surrenders of NPA rebels. Of the total, 114 were regular members while 29 were supporters of the NPA. (SunStar Zamboanga)