12 ex-NPA rebels in northern Negros yield

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Twelve alleged former combatants of the New People’s Army (NPA), including some squad leaders and a high-ranking officer of the Northern Negros Front (NNF) in Negros Occidental, surrendered to the authorities recently.

These former rebel returnees were presented yesterday, along with their surrendered firearms at the headquarters of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Bato, Sagay City.

Captain Dan Carlo Samoza, 79th IB civil military operations (CMO) officer, said that these rebel returnees were from the cities of San Carlos, Sagay, and Escalante, and the towns of Toboso, and Calatrava.

The youngest is 22 years old and the oldest is 40 years old, according to Samoza.

Samoza said that Atty. Charo Tupas Fajardo, legal officer of Escalante City, administered the oath of allegiance to the government of the rebel returnees.

The former NPA rebels received food packs from the said local government units (LGUs).

Samoza said this development was a result of the massive campaign of the 79th IB against the NPA, and their personal reasons also helped them decide on this matter.

“Mga pangako ng NPA na hindi natutupad, labis na gutom, mahirap na buhay, at napalaking oras na nawawala sa kanilang pamilya ang nag tulak sa kanila,” he added.

Samoza said these returnees will be processed by the 79th IB as part of their reintegration before they return to the community.