COTABATO CITY – Seven more members of the New People’s Army surrendered Sunday, November 29, to the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
Major General Juvymax Uy, 6th ID’s commander, said Monday, November 30, the first to yield were Bryan Berallo Bransuela, Julito Blag, Romel Manguda, and Justie Mayao.
They are now in the custody of the 7th Infantry Battalion whose officials secured their surrender through backdoor dialogues.
Uy said
the four NPA former members are to be reintroduced to mainstream society with
the help of the local government units (LGUs) of Senator Ninoy Aquino and
Esperanza, both in Sultan Kudarat province.
The four NPAs belonged to a group operating in the hinterlands in both towns.
Three other NPAs, Joselito Kantem, Bebeng Dimaog, and Daniel Policia surrendered later on Sunday, November 29, and renounced their membership with the rebel group before pledging allegiance to the government.
The seven NPAs agreed to turn themselves in through the efforts of the 7th IB and LGU officials in Senator Ninoy Aquino and Esperanza towns.
“We are thankful to all local officials and community leaders who helped convince them to avail of the government’s reconciliation program for members of the New People’s Army,” Uy said.
Uy said the 6th ID and local officials in provinces under its jurisdiction have recently agreed to maximize cooperation in convincing NPAs to return to the fold of law.
More than
a hundred NPAs have surrendered to units of the 6th ID since 2017, many of them
now back in their barangays thriving as farmers, rehabilitated with the help of
LGUs. (CONTRIBUTOR, MINDANAO EXPOSE’
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