2 NPAs surrender in Bukidnon

Manila, Philippines - Two self-confessed active members of the New People’s Army operating in Bukidnon following a series of negotiations, have yielded to Army authorities based in the pro­vince.

Maj. Eugenio Julio Osias IV, spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division identified the two NPA rebels as Jun Jan-Ayan alias Ka Ring and Bernie Mariano alias Ka Norman, all active members of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 89 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

Following their surrender early this week, the two were immediately placed under the protective custody of the 8th Infantry Battalion in South Poblacion, Maramag town, due to threats from their hardliner colleagues. 

“The two surrendered after negotiations with members of the 8 IB of the 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade under the command of Lt. Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II,” Osias said.

 Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, Commanding General, 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division said the recent surrender was due to the Army’s active community building on peace and development teams in the field.          

“This recent development is a manifestation that NPA members are not satisfied with their lives within the armed struggle and they now trust our men in the COPD teams whom they came to understand as those who improve the lives of people in their community,” said Felix.

Felix said they are now getting reports from the field that more NPA rebels are willing to talk and negotiate their surrender. 

However, some NPA hardliners have been continuously blocking the efforts by their colleagues and even threatened them with harm if they will pursue their plan to surrender.