TIRED, HUNGRY. Four fighters of the communist New People’s Army surrender on Wednesday (Nov. 30, 2022) to the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. Exhaustion and hunger due to relentless military operations forced the four rebels to abandon the NPA and return to their families. (Photo courtesy of 26IB).
BUTUAN CITY – Fatigue and hunger forced four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to surrender to the military in Agusan del Sur.
In a statement on Thursday, the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion (IB) said the four rebels, led by a certain “Airish”, were regular members of Platoon Sagay, NPA Sub-Regional Committee 3, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.
The four yielded Wednesday afternoon at the 26IB headquarters in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, and handed over two AK-47 rifles, a KG-9 submachine gun, and a Carbine rifle.
“They also longed to see their families and children whom they left for years after joining the NPA organization,” the 26IB said, as it lauded the support of the community leaders who helped facilitate the surrender.
“Airish”, as quoted in the 26IB statement, said the intensified military operations in the hinterlands of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte have made their lives "miserable."
“We were cut off from the sources of our food. Most of us experienced too much hunger. The military operations also forced us to run day and night,” she said.
Airish said she had been wanting to go home to see her children whom she had not seen for years.
In the same statement, 26IB commander Lt. Col. Sandy Majarocon lauded the rebels for following "the path to peace and reconciliation with the government."
“The government is always ready to help you renew your lives through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” Majarocon added. (PNA)
