Wanted NPA leader surrenders in DSB town

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY — An alleged high-ranking officer of the New People’s Army (NPA) wanted for various offenses voluntarily surrendered to the police in Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), Negros Occidental, early this week.

Police Captain Ignacio Javier, deputy chief of DSB Municipal Police Station, stated that the 29-year-old former rebel, whose name was withheld for security reasons, was previously a vice commanding officer of the dismantled North Negros Front (NNF) of Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS) operating in the areas of Don Salvador Benedicto, Toboso, and Calatrava.

Upon his surrender, the rebel returnee handed over a homemade .357 revolver, five rounds of .357 ammunition, four rounds of 40mm ammunition, and two meters of detonating cord to the police.

Javier mentioned that the former rebel now wishes to live a normal life with his family. He noted that it took years to negotiate the surrender of the former rebel, who had been involved in the armed struggle for about 10 years.

With this development, Javier said that police served the former rebel with arrest warrants for various crimes he committed during his time in the armed struggle.

However, the former rebel is currently under police custody for safekeeping.

Javier explained that authorities informed the former rebel about the consequences of his offenses and the benefits that he and his family could receive from the government as he returned to the fold of the law.

Personnel from the 65SAC, Special Action Battalion (SAB), also assisted in facilitating the surrender of the former rebel.