CALBAYOG CITY– A regular member of Yunit Militia, widely known as New People’s Army (NPA) recently surrendered to Police Major Marval Diaz, the officer-in-charge of the First Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st SPMFC) based in Barangay Palanas Cara, this city.
The former rebel, identified as “Van” who is from Gandara, Samar, also surrendered a magnum 357 revolver.
Van was convinced by his elder sibling alias Ben to the armed movement in 2012 under Team Uno, Squad Uno, Angel Platoon, front committee-6 of the sub-regional committee browser (SRCB) of the NPA.
His group operates in remote villages of Sta. Margarita, Gandara, and Matuguinao and even attend rallies in Tacloban City.
“I want to go back to my normal life, hence, I surrendered to Police Major Diaz. I am already exhausted because the government forces intensified their offensive operations against our group”, the former rebel said, citing his reason for giving up the armed rebellion.
Police Major Diaz said that Van is the 14th NPA member who denounced the revolutionary movement through voluntary submission to 1st SMPFC and the second surrenderer under his stint as commander of the unit.
“We admire Van’s courage to leave the terrorist group in his desire to live peacefully with his family again. Since Van identified 36 NPA squad members and 2 commanders, we urge his fellows to lay down their arms and we will gladly welcome them along with the 14 surrenderers”, Diaz concluded.
Upon compliance of necessary documentary requirements, Van and 13 other surrenderers will be availing the privileges of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), enshrined under Executive Order No. 70 also known as the whole-of-nation approach, an anti-terrorism program of the Philippine government.
(LEVIRESA ATIS GETIGAN)
