ALABEL, Sarangani (August 31, 2007) – The military said 89 sympathizers of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) have surrendered with a number of firearms and pledged allegiance to the government.
"I can no longer accept their ideology," said 23-year old Alfredo Rosales during the surrender ceremony Thursday (August 30) at Alabel municipal gym.
Rosales actively supported the CCP-NPA in 2001 and 2002.
Rosales and tens of those who surrendered are residents of barangay Pag-asa. The rest were from barangays Alegria and Datal Anggas, the remotest barangay of the town.
Tactical interrogation disclosed that these supporters were trained, armed, and could become combatants when the NPA runs out of men, said Colonel Fidel Legiralde Jr., commanding officer of the 66th Infantry Brigade.
"We will retrain them and qualify them to become civilian volunteers in order to help their communities," Legiralde said.
Mayor Corazon Grafilo told those who surrendered "we will help you find a better life from now on and live normally with your community."
On August 15, the military raided an NPA sub-post in the hinterlands of Alabel seizing high-powered firearms and an improvised land mine.
Rebels manning the post eluded arrest, the military said.
Eleven members of the CPP-NPA who surrendered to the 66th IB last month guided the military in the raid.
In Maasim town, 55 combatants, medics and propagandists from CPP-NPA Front 73 have started a livelihood association under Mayor Aniceto Lopez' "From Arms to Farms Program."
"Iisa lang ang bandila ng ating gobyerno at gagawin namin ang lahat para makibahagi sa ating komunidad, " former rebel leader Anthony "Ka Gabriel" Arinsulat said. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)
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