Official Philippine Army Press Release

Press Release 02-081

Date Released: 13 Oct  2009

More rebels abandon armed movement

Alongside the continuous rescue and relief operations in Central and Northern Luzon, wherein thousands of Army soldiers were deployed to help the thousands of families affected by the excessive flooding and landslide, the intensified operations and nation-building activities of the Philippine Army continues in other parts of the country resulting to more surrender of local terrorists.

Reports reaching the Philippine Army headquarters disclosed that three New People's Army rebels surrendered to Army troopers in three separate incidents in the southern region.

In Davao Oriental, a team leader of the local terrorist group under South Mindanao Regional Committee surrendered to the 28th Infantry Battalion, while a team leader of the local terrorist group operating in Sultan Kudarat and an NPA member in Surigao del Sur voluntarily surrendered to the elements of the 27th Infantry Battalion and 36th Infantry Battalion respectively.

These surrenders came simultaneously with the surrender of MILF leader Abdul Bualan Nasser @ Pulvo together with his four followers, who yielded with various high-powered firearms and ammunition to the 75th Infantry Battalion.

All surrenderors are presently undergoing custodial debriefing, while their inclusion to the Social Integration Program of the government is being studied.

This continuous surrender can be attributed to the rebels' desire to embrace a life of peace, reinforced by the Philippine Army's sincerity to provide an environment conducive for peace and development.

So far, the Philippine Army has recorded a total of 429 NPA and 437 rogue MILF surrenderors from January to October 2009. #