A MAN said to be an officer of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and his wife surrendered in South Cotabato, a military official said Wednesday, January 17.
Noel Minioto Legazpi is allegedly the deputy secretary of the NPA in the Far South Mindanao Region while his wife, Jeanalyn Defensor Bendalian, is a member of the medical team of the said unit.
Captain Gary Dida, civil military operations commander of the 10th Infantry Division, said the couple surrendered to the troops of 27th Infantry Battalion in South Cotabato on Monday afternoon.
Dida said the couple said they decided to surrender because they believe the communist group will not win the war against the government.
The couple’s surrender was facilitated by South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes who vowed to help the couple reintegrate into the society.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte tagged the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines as terrorists after he scrapped the peace talks with CPP's political arm, National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Duterte has repeatedly urged NPA members to surrender, with the promise of housing and decent jobs. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)