3 young leftist rebels surrender to gov't troops in Agusan

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Three members of the leftist rebel group of the New People's Army (NPA), two of them minors, surrendered to the military in Agusan del Sur yesterday, military said today.

Major Nilo Kanashiro, executive officer of the Philippine Army' s 24th Infantry Battalion, said the three yielded to the battalion Wednesday morning, bringing with them an M16 rifle, a Garand rifle and an AK47 rifle.

Kanashiro named the three as cousins Librado Salintao, alias Fredie, 17, Ryan Salintao Agsubo, 20, and Rongie Tawide, alias Rongie, 17. The three were affiliated with the Guerilla Front 34 of the NPA.

"These young rebels, two of them are minors, decided to leave the underground movement because they felt that something is wrong in the rebel group...They were promised a better life which was not fulfilled," he said.

Kanashiro said Librado Salintao convinced his cousins to leave the rebel movement "because he got nothing but empty promises." He said Librado Salintao joined the NPA in December 2011 and his cousins came in later.

Kanashiro said the battalion leadership is appealing to the NPA to spare minors from their armed struggle. The employment of minors in combat is against Philippine and international laws.