CALBAYOG CITY-An alleged member of the New People’s Army has surrendered to police in Santa Margarita, Samar.
The former rebel, identified as “Aris, surrendered to Police Major Marval Diaz, officer-in-charge of the First Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (SPMFC) last May 5.
He was said to have been a member of the communist armed group since 2013 and recruited by alias ‘Kimbo’, the squad leader of the Angel Platoon, Front Committee (FC) – 6, Sub-Regional Committee Browser, whose group operates in the remote villages of Gandara and Matuguinao towns, also in Samar.
“I decided to join the militia in 2013 because I wanted my sister to renounce the movement and return home. However, I was blamed by my family instead saying that I was the one who convinced my sister to join the YM while in fact, she joined in first”, Aris stated.
“My voluntary surrender to Police Major Diaz is a manifestation of my commitment to formally denounce my allegiance to the communist terrorist group so as to finally embrace a peaceful and normal life with my family”, he added.
Diaz said that Aris is the 12th member of the communist group who yielded to 1st SMFC since 2020. Two of which surrendered in January this year and the other one last March.
Aris is the first surrenderer this month under Diaz’s stint.
“I commend my intelligence operatives and all personnel of this unit for setting another record in the roster of former rebels turned surrenderers. All your efforts paid off including the contribution of our counterpart in the locality. I urge you to continue working closely and to stay committed and dedicated to our organization’s mandate to serve and protect our people”, Diaz remarked.
The intensified anti-insurgency campaign of the PNP is in accordance with Executive Order No. 70 issued during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The newly-surrendered rebel will be provided assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) program of the government.
(LEVIRESA ATIS GETIGAN)
