By Ruth Palo / The Manila Times

DAVAO CITY – Seven members of the New People’s Army (NPA), who surrendered to government forces recently, were presented to the media on Monday at the headquarters of the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) in Camp Catitipan, Buhangin this city.

Police identified the surrenderers as Nene, Jane, Waway, Ben, Rogel, Ojie and Nestor, a former commanding officer of the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command 8.

PRO 11 Director BGen. Filmore Escobal said Nene and Jane respectively served as the group’s squad leader and supply-medic. Waway, on the other hand, served as the leader of the Regional Political Committee, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Nestor, Nene, Jane and Waway surrendered at the Davao del Norte provincial police office while others voluntarily surrendered to elements of the Philippine Army and Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay.

The rebels also yielded their firearms to government forces.

Escobal said surrender of the NPA members is proof the government, through the programs being delivered by different government agencies, is now being felt even in the hinterlands.

“Because of the National Task Force-Ending Local Armed Conflict, all government agencies are now working hand in hand for us to be able to achieve the desire of President Rodrigo Duterte to end the insurgency problem,” Escobal said.

“In Region 11, we can say we are close to achieving the goal of President Duterte to end communist armed conflict before he steps down in 2022.”

Meanwhile, Philippine Army’s 1002nd Infantry Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Potenciano Camba said whole-of-nation approach has been applied, through several strategies, to advance and sustain this framework and put an end to 52 years of armed conflict.

“Sa ating mga rebel returnees, sana ay kasabay ng inyong pagbabalik-loob at pagsuko ng inyong mga sandata ang inyong muling pagbabagong-buhay at pagbangon muli na may pag-asa,” he said.

The surrenderers also received cash assistance from the government through the Department of Labor and Employment 11’s integrated livelihood and emergency employment program.