NUEVA ECIJA -- A total of 12 rebels voluntarily surrendered to the 703rd Infantry Brigade.
They were presented along with 26 captured, confiscated, surrendered or recovered (CCSR) firearms during a media briefing of the top military and police officials in Central Luzon held in Fort Magsaysay.
Of the CCSR firearms, 23 are light weapon while three are small arms. The firearms were gained thru the surrender of the 12 rebels.
Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Ramiro Manuel A. Rey said he is glad that the former rebels chose to surrender and start a new life.
“I would rather see them alive and working hard to live peacefully than discover them in a cold, unmarked grave with nothing to identify them with,” he stressed.
Rey encouraged the former rebels to communicate with their active comrades and convince them to surrender.
For his part, 7th Infantry Division (7ID) Commander Major General Lenard T. Agustin appealed to the media to tell the people that the security forces and the government as a whole is doing its best to finally end the local communist armed conflict.
“We are not happy when an enemy die, for at the end of the day, they still are fellow Filipinos,” Agustin added.
Prior to the presentation, a christening of the daughter of alias Megan and alias Ninoy was held at the St. John the Worker Chapel of 7ID.
The christening was hosted by the 7ID as a sign of goodwill to the former rebels who are now cooperating with the government and who are eager to give their daughter a peaceful life.
Military and police officials led by Rey, Agustin and Police Regional Director Brigadier General Rhodel Sermonia served as godfathers to the seven-month old child. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu via PIA-Central Luzon)