15 NPA members yield in Sultan Kudarat

COTABATO CITY – Fifteen communist rebels surrendered to authorities in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on Tuesday, a police official said.

Brig. Gen. Eliseo Rasco, director of Police Regional Office-12, said the surrenderers belong to the New People’s Army's (NPA) Platoon Cherry Mobile–Guerilla Front 73 that operates in the peripheries of Palimbang, Lebak, Kalamansig, and Senator Ninoy Aquino towns--all in Sultan Kudarat province.

“The latest NPA batch voluntarily surrendered because they felt they were duped by their NPA recruiters,” Rasco said.

The surrenderers were identified as Rhea Timan alias Ka Elmi, the group’s leader, who is described as a political instructor; Ugdok Dafu alias; Felipe Dafu; Dansuli Sipot; Ansit Etang; Inggaw Fandi; Dali Timbangan; Tui Timbangan; Tata Fandi; Luz Etang; John Etang; Jun-Jun Macalbing; Kenis Dafu; Jeymark Javal; and Jigsloyd Talaman.

The group also surrendered firearms consisting of an M16 rifle, a 30-caliber Garand rifle, two M14 rifles, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, an improvised 5.56-caliber rifle, two .45-caliber pistols, an Ingram submachine pistol, two improvised M79 grenade launchers, and assorted ammunition.

Rasco said the surrenderers are currently undergoing custodial debriefing and documentation with the 1st Marine Brigade.

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