NPA rebels surrender in Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines — Six communist rebels surrendered in Occidental Mindoro on Thursday.

Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban, public affairs office chief of the 2nd Infantry Division, said the rebels surrendered to the 76th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitios Kabilugan and Kalinyawan in Barangay San Vicente, Abra de Ilog. 

The surrenderees, who were identified only as Bugo, Siri, Rustom, Buho, Pedro and Dos, were with the Milisyang Bayan and are members of the Iraya tribal community. 

“They operated with the NPA (New People’s Army)... when the group needed additional personnel to conduct atrocities such as raids, ambushes, snipings and extortions,” Lt. Col. Mario Lito Retirva, 76th IB commander, said.

Col. Marceliano Teofilo, 203rd Infantry Brigade commander, said recent surrenders are indications that the communist movement is becoming insignificant to the masses.