Four alleged ranking members of the New People’s Army in Negros Oriental surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion on Saturday, August 7.
Lt. Col. Roderick Salayo, 11IB commanding officer, identified the surrenderees as alias Jango, and alias Jay, both members of the Regional Striking Force (RSF), Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KR-NCBS), alias Rodel, vice squad leader of Squad 3, Central Negros 2, and alias Bong, the remaining squad leader of the dismantled South East Front.
Alias Bong also surrendered his .45 caliber pistol with 22 live ammunition, while alias Rodel yielded a .45 caliber pistol with six live ammunition.
“We are having a hard time in the hinterlands because we have no place to hide. The people are no longer supporting us. We no longer have the capability to fight the soldiers because our fronts have been shattered,” Jango was quoted as saying in the Army’s press release.
The Army will assist the surrenderees to be enrolled in the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
Salayo lauded the courage of the four surrenderees who chose the right path and left behind the armed struggle.
Col. Leo Peña, 302nd Brigade Commander, said, “I am glad these four ranking NPA members finally realized the need to live peacefully with their families. That is the most important thing, to be with their families. We will assist them in processing their E-CLIP benefits upon completing the requirements for validation and evaluation.”*