Alleged NPA leader, two sons surrender in Negros Oriental

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An alleged high-ranking official of the New People’s Army (NPA) and his two sons surrendered to the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB) and the police in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental last Sunday.

Lieutenant Colonel Roderick Salayo, 11th IB commander, identified the surrenderers as alias Kol/Reynald, alleged team leader of dismantled South East Front (SEF), Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, along with his sons – alias Emman, 23, and alias Junie, 20, who were both former members of Yunit Militia.

The former rebels also turned over an M14 (single bolt action) rifle without markings and with defaced serial number, and subversive documents with high intelligence value, according to the Army.

This development came after alias Neri, alleged deputy secretary of SEF, was arrested by the Army during an encounter in Barangay Tayak, Siaton town last month.

The Army also seized from Neri high-powered firearms and subversive documents.

Salayo thanked the surrenderers for returning to the folds of the law.

“We will never be tired of supplementing the needs of the surrenderers to restore their allegiance to the government,” he said.

Brigadier General Leonardo Peña, 302nd Infantry Brigade (IBde), assured the former rebels that the government and the Army are ready to embrace and welcome them back to their normal lives.

They will be enrolled in the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) to avail of the financial and livelihood assistance.