3 rebs yield to AFP in Davao region
Camp Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City - Three more New People's Army (NPA)
fighters surrendered to authorities in Southern Mindanao bringing the
total number of surrenderees in this region to 32 this year as of June
2, Wednesday.
The latest surrenderee is Jecil Libanda alias Neneng who yielded a
caliber .30 M2 carbine rifle at the Headquarters of 1003rd Infantry
Brigade in Sto. Tomas town in Davao Del Norte under Brig. Gen. Eduardo
Del Rosario 7:00 PM Wednesday. Libanda is a member of Front-89 of the
NPA and a resident of Agusan del Sur.
Two more rebels surrendered to authorities in Davao region in the last
two weeks. Last May 20, Michael Diambolang alias Argie, member of Banog
Squad of the NPA in Far South Mindanao and a resident of Matanao town in
Davao del Sur voluntarily surrendered to 1Lt. Antonio Santos of 39th
Infantry Battalion.
On May 30, Rudy Enlog, leader of Baking Team, Primera Squad, Sentro de
Gravidad-35, of the NPA and a resident of Talaingod town in Davao del
Norte willingly surrendered to officers of 1003rd Infantry Brigade.
Authorities said the peaceful surrender of the trio was facilitated by
tribal leaders and village officials in their respective localities.
The series of surrender by NPA fighters was a "very welcome development"
said Maj. Gen, Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army's 10th Infantry
Division with operational jurisdiction over southern Mindanao. "Every
misguided brother who returns into the folds of the law is a welcome
respite to the atrocities which the NPAs commit against the people.
There will be no let-up in our pursuit and law enforcement efforts to
bring these criminals to justice but we sincerely encourage them to
surrender and live a new and peaceful life for their families’ sake."
Holganza concluded.
In 2009, a total of 291 NPAs surrendered to the Army's 10th Infantry
Division which includes 181 Lumads, 29 women warriors and 13 child
combatants. The province of Davao Oriental leads the tally with 96
surrenderees last year.
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