THREE suspected communist insurgents, two of them allegedly high-ranking New People's Army (NPA) officials, have surrendered to the government, bringing with them five assorted high-powered firearms and ammunition.
The former rebels were identified as Jeffrey Mondejar, Jaica Precioso and Apatan Agsubo.
Mondejar is said to be the Vice Commander of Regional Sentro de Grabidad (RSDG) COMPAQ, while Precioso belongs to the Platoon Medic of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) Banglas of Guerilla Front Committee (GFC) 88, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
The army said Agsubo is a member of SYP2, GFC 34 of Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).
First Lieutenant Tere Ingente, 4th Infantry Division (4ID) spokesperson, said the three rebels surrendered to Lieutenant Colonel Rommel Pagayon of the 26th Infantry Battalion (26IB) in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur on Thursday.
Ingente said the surrenderers yielded an AK47, Garand rifle, carbine, an M16 rifle and a revolver pistol.
Colonel Andres Centino, commander of 401st Infantry Brigade, said the former rebels decided to give up because of the "widespread corruption inside the NPA and the rampant atrocities it inflicts to innocent civilians."
“The recent surrenderers heard a radio announcement on the different programs of the government and was convinced of the sincerity of the Duterte administration to help the former rebels especially when they found out about their former comrades who were invited to Malacañang Palace to dine with our President,” Centino said.
It can be recalled that some 123 former rebels were invited by President Duterte for a three-day tour in Manila and a dinner at Malacañang Palace.
“There is a life far more progressive and peaceful than the life being experience by the NPA terrorists in the mountains. Our president is extending his hands to help them and to find extraordinary ways to encourage them to lay down their arms and return to the mainstream society,” said Major General Ronald Villanueva, the 4ID commander.
Aside from the dinner invitation, the female rebels are now in the process of getting passports for a future trip abroad courtesy of the administration.