NPA rebel surrenders

From the Mindanao Times (Feb 22): NPA rebel surrenders  

AN ALLEGED member of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the 25th Infantry Battalion and the Monkayo police on Saturday.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of 10th Infantry Division, said alias Mar sought the assistance of Monkayo Mayor Ramil Gentugaya upon his surrender.

He was said to be a squad leader of NPA’s Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) 8 and resident of Agusan Del Sur. He claimed that constant fear and hardship due to the relentless combat operations of the military forced him to lay down his arms.

Mar also claimed that they were duped into thinking that once they surrender, they will be tortured to death by the military.

“I have proven false the indoctrination of the NPA leaders,” he said. “The soldiers took good care of me.”

He also revealed that some of his comrades are also thinking about surrendering if given the chance.

Alias Mar is now undergoing debriefing and validation for enrolment to the comprehensive local integration program (CLIP) for rebel returnees.

In his statement, Brig. Gen. Macairog Alberto, commander of 1001st Infantry Brigade, appealed to communist rebels to come down and return to their families, and live a productive life rather lead a life of violence.

http://mindanaotimes.net/npa-rebel-surrenders/