19 CPP-NPA members surrender in southern Negros

By Nanette Guadalquiver / Philippine News Agency

BACOLOD CITY – Some 19 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) turned themselves in to the authorities in southern Negros on Tuesday afternoon.

A report of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) released on Wednesday said the rebels voluntarily surrendered and was facilitated by joint police and military units in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City.

Col. Romy Palgue, police provincial director, said the surrenderers will be assisted by the government to help them pursue a peaceful life as he encouraged "those who are part of the CPP-NPA to surrender themselves to the authorities. ”

Palgue said the decision of the 19 Negrenses to yield is a result of the continuous negotiation of the concerned units through the support of the Barangay Intelligence Networks.

Lt. Abegael Donasco, deputy public information officer, said these CPP-NPA members decided to surrender after realizing that they have no future in the communist insurgency movement.

Photos of the initial six surrenderers released by the Kabankalan City Police Station showed two of them are females and four are males, who are in their 50’s and early 60’s.

They are residents of Kabankalan City and the neighboring Ilog town.

Other units that helped initiate and facilitate the surrender were the NOCPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, Regional Intelligence Unit-Western Visayas’ Negros Occidental Provincial Intelligence Team, and Bacolod City Intelligence Team, 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Public Safety Company, Maritime Group Special Operation Unit, and Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)