By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Nineteen alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) voluntarily surrendered to law enforcers at Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last Tuesday.
Joint personnel of Kabankalan City Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit, Bacolod City Intelligence Team, Special Operation Unit of Maritime Group, 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Public Safety Company, and Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) initiated and facilitated their decision to return to the folds of the law.
Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, deputy information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), said their voluntary surrender was the result of the continuous negotiation of the law enforcement agencies and through the support of Barangay Information Network (BIN) in the area.
Two of the rebel returnees were residents of Ilog town.
Police Colonel Romy Palgue, Nocppo director, encouraged those who are still part of the NPA to surrender themselves to the authorities as he assured them that their identities will unquestionably remain anonymous.
Palgue said the former rebels will be receiving assistance from the government.
