ZAMBOANGA CITY – Convinced by his wife who is a village councilor, a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel involved in “agaw armas” (weapon grabbing) surrendered to authorities in Zamboanga Sibugay province, an official said Tuesday.
Col. John Francis Encinareal, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Zamboanga Peninsula (CIDG-9) chief, said Belandro Guilayan, 54, surrendered around 7 p.m. Monday at the CIDG field office in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Encinareal said Guilayan surrendered after his wife, a councilor in Barangay Lacnapan of Kabasalan town, convinced him to turn himself in so that he could live as a free man.
The CIDG official withheld Guilayan's wife's identity.
Guilayan told authorities that he was recruited in 1986 by Joseph Pandi alias Kumander Kulong and Pandi’s wife, Risky, an NPA medic.
He served as an “agaw armas” to collect firearms for NPA rebels targeting personnel of the municipal police in Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Guilayan also served as a member of the NPA’s Guerrilla Yunit Propaganda Uno in the towns of Kabasalan, Siay, Diplahan, Buug, and Naga, all in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Encinareal said Guilayan “was still involved in rallies conducted by the white area's movement of the NPA” although he returned to Lacnapan village in December 2017.
Guilayan is now under the custody of the CIDG for debriefing. (PNA)
