2 NPA rebels surrender, 2 others nabbed in Zamboanga del Norte

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - Two communist insurgents voluntarily surrendered with their firearms while two others were captured in a town of Zamboanga del Norte.

The military said the two young New People’s Army (NPA) members identified as Jerry Lumangcag, 19, and his cousin Arnel Lumangcag, 25, both natives of Misamis Oriental, gave up to avail themselves of the government’s ‘balik-baril’ and livelihood programs for rebel returnees.

Lt. Col. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 53rd Infantry Battalion, said the two surrendered two Ak-47 rifle after they were convinced by the peaceful campaign program launched Tuesday by his forces at Guipos town.

As the rebels surrendered their firearms they will be compensated under the balik-baril program and be granted  livelihood assistance as part of the integration into the society.

The surrender of the two former insurgents came following the capture a week earlier of two other communist rebels at sitio Sagpang, Barangay Datagan also in Guipos town.

The two captured NPA members were identified as Wilfredo Dalumos alias Nick or Tongtong and Edgar Cadilanza. They were captured following a brief firefight, according to Luzon.

The government forces recovered from the rebels  an Ingram M11 loaded with 46 live ammunition and a fragmentation hand grenade.

The Police Regional Office 9 (PRO) said the local prosecutor’s office has filed cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against Dalumos and recommended P100,000-bail while Cadilanza faces charges of illegal possession of explosive with no bail recommended. -  Roel Pareño