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2 more NPA rebels yield in Sarangani

By Allen Estabillo

January 30, 2020, 7:05 pm

<p><strong>SURRENDER.</strong> Two members of the New People’s Army, one of them recruited while still a minor, surrender Tuesday to the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion and the Sarangani Police Provincial Office. The two yielded voluntarily along with their firearms following a series of negotiations.<em> (Photo courtesy of the 73IB)</em></p>

SURRENDER. Two members of the New People’s Army, one of them recruited while still a minor, surrender Tuesday to the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion and the Sarangani Police Provincial Office. The two yielded voluntarily along with their firearms following a series of negotiations. (Photo courtesy of the 73IB)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Two more members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have surrendered to police and Army personnel in Sarangani province, a military official said on Thursday.

Lt. Col. Ronaldo Valdez, commanding officer of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion (IB), said the rebels--one of whom reportedly recruited while still a minor--yielded along with their firearms following a series of negotiations.

Valdez said the surrender last Tuesday was facilitated by their unit and personnel from the Sarangani Police Provincial Office in Alabel town.

In a statement, the 73IB identified the surrenderers as alias “Yuhan” and alias “Analyn,” who were previously under the Platoon North of the NPA’s Guerilla Front Tala-Far South Mindanao Region.

“Yuhan” was listed as a resident of Malita, Davao Occidental while “Analyn” hails Alabel, Sarangani. They surrendered two caliber .30 M1 Garand semi-automatic rifles reportedly issued by their former unit.

Valdez said “Yuhan” was lured to join the NPA, thinking that it would be a way out of poverty for him and his family.

But he said the latter, who rose to become a junior commanding officer, discovered later on that joining the communist group was his “worst nightmare.”

“He surrendered because he could no longer take the injustices and violence happening within the organization. He wanted to be with his family and begin a new life without fear in the community,” he said, citing accounts of the returnee.

On the other hand, Valdez said “Analyn,” who served as platoon medical officer and political guide of her former unit, was recruited to join the NPA while she was only 16 years old.

Valdez said “Analyn” later realized that she was a victim of the communist group's "deceptive recruitment" as she later discovered that the rebels would commit human rights violations and employ oppressive tactics on defenseless civilians.

He said the two returnees will be recommended for coverage in the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) to be able to receive financial and livelihood assistance.

“We are reiterating our call to other NPA members to lay down their arms, surrender and avail of the E-CLIP,” he added. (PNA)

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