WAR MATERIALS. A firearm and hand grenade turned over to the military by a former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) operating in Aurora province who yielded on Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2020). Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio, commander of 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, Philippine Army, identified the former rebel as Ka Benny, 45, a resident of Barangay Gupa, Dipaculao, Aurora. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 91st Infantry Battalion)
BALER, Aurora -- A former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) operating in this province surrendered and yielded his firearm and a hand grenade Tuesday as authorities intensified their focused military operation against the terrorist organization.
Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio, commander of the 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, Philippine Army, identified the former rebel as Ka Benny, 45, a resident of Barangay Gupa, Dipaculao, this province.
Rubio, in an interview, said that Ka Benny had left the communist group for some time already before deciding to properly surrender to the authorities in order to have his name removed from the battle list of both the police and the military.
He added that the former rebel, who served in the underground movement for three years, decided to return to the fold of the law after realizing that there is no hope nor future in the terrorist group.
“Ka Benny said he decided to take the peaceful path to change,” he said.
The former rebel likewise surrendered his hand grenade and .38-caliber revolver to the Bravo Company of the 91IB in Barangay Dibaraybay, Dinalungan, this province.
Rubio commended Ka Benny for voluntarily surrendering his war materials.
He urged the remaining members of the communist terrorist group, including the Militia ng Bayan, to surrender to the government and avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Col. Andrew Costelo, commander of 703rd Infantry “Agila” Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division, said the intensified focused military operations conducted by the police and military troops restricted the rebel group’s maneuver space, prompting them to lie low and surrender to the authorities.
He likewise asked the active members of the communist terrorist group to lay down their arms and avail of the benefits and programs being offered by the government.
He expressed hope the Komiteng Larangang Guerilla (KLG) in Central Luzon, an armed NPA guerrilla front, will be dismantled by the end of this year. (PNA)
