SURRENDER. The .30-caliber Garand rifle and hand grenade yielded by New People’s Army instructor Jimmy Aba Salune who surrendered to the military in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on Monday (Nov. 11, 2019). Before his surrender, Salune was also the leader of Team Cherry Mobile of the New People’s Army West Daguma Front - Far South Mindanao regional command. (Photo courtesy of 6IB)
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Hardship in the mountains and continuous running away from pursuing government forces, has prompted a communist rebel instructor from Sultan Kudarat to surrender to military authorities, the Army here said Tuesday.
Former New Peoples’ Army (NPA) rebel Jimmy Aba Salune alias "Tayron" surrendered Monday to the Army's 6th Infantry Battalion in Centro Poblacion, Barangay Salangsang, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, a military official said.
Before his surrender, Salune was the leader of Team Cherry Mobile of the New People’s Army West Daguma Front - Far South Mindanao regional command, said Lt Col. Clairemont W. Pinpin, 6IB commander.
Salune, who is also an instructor for communist recruits, brought with him a .30-caliber Garand rifle and a fragmentation grenade, Pinpin said.
"The pressure from the ongoing focused military operation led Salune to leave the group,” Pinpin said, adding that the intensified military operations eventually resulted in hunger and hardship among the rebels.
Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division chief and Joint Task Force Central commander, welcomed Salune's surrenderer, saying the latter can now "live peacefully now with his family".
Carreon said Salune is entitled to receive the benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government.
The NPA, together with 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)
