A COUPLE who are ranking New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have surrendered amid continued government offensive against them in Zamboanga del Norte, the military reported Wednesday, July 6, 2022.
Lieutenant Colonel Nolasco Coderos Jr., commander of the 97th Infantry Battalion, identified the NPA couple surrenderer as Benedicto Granada and his wife, Gina, the deputy secretary and secretary of the defunct Guerilla Front Big Beautiful Country (GF BBC), respectively.
Coderos said they surrendered Tuesday, July 5, at the headquarters of the battalion in Del Pilar village, Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte.
Coderos said the couple revealed they decided to surrender as they realized that all of the remaining NPA groups in Zamboanga Peninsula were already dismantled.
They also felt and suffered extreme fatigue and exhaustion that resulted in losing their will to fight due to the relentless conduct of military operations of troops under 102nd Infantry Brigade, he said.
Coderos said the couple were placed under medical examination and under the protective custody of 97IB while being processed to avail government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).
E-Clip is a government program that aims to help members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and Militia ng Bayan to restore their allegiance to the Philippine government.
Through the E-Clip, they can be reintegrated back to the community, be with their families and start over with their new and normal lives. (SunStar Zamboanga)