More NPAs surrender
December 1, 2009 1:27 pm
MANILA, Dec. 1 — The Philippine Army continues to gain headway in the fight against communist insurgency as intensified operations and nation-building activities resulted to the surrender of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in different parts of the country.
Quoting reports reaching the Philippine Army Headquarters, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos disclosed that another set of rebels willingly returned to the government fold as they turned themselves over to the Army units in Agusan del Sur and Mountain Province.
In Agusan del Sur, Burgos said a certain Lou Tortuga Colonia, alias "Insik", a local terrorist group member operating in North Eastern Mindanao, voluntarily surrendered with his firearm to the elements of the 36th Infantry Battalion.
Colonia also turned over a Cal 30 M1 Carbine with various ammunition. Also, in Mountain Province, local terrorist group members identified as Jimmy Faniswar y Tabis and Zenaida Fagni y Chap-as yielded to the joint elements of the 5th Civil Military Operations Battalion and the 54th Infantry Battalion with one M16 rifle, one Garand rifle, and hand grenades.
"The surrenderors are qualified to benefit from the Social Integration Program (SIP) of the government which will provide financial and livelihood assistance as they joined the mainstream society. Recent reports revealed that a total of 560 former NPA rebels who have returned to government fold have already availed themselves of the SIP," said Burgos.
"In this last phase of anti-insurgency campaign, the Philippine Army’s commitment to deliver lasting peace and development in the country continues, as it undertook various measures are being undertaken to ensure a winning stance against all threats to national stability and progress," added Burgos. (PNA)
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