EXTREME hardships and false promises have pushed two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to surrender to the government troops in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the military reported Wednesday, May 17.
Lieutenant Colonel Virgilio Hamos, Jr., Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion commander, identified them as Rey Anthony Dungog alias "Ka Mark," 19, and Alvin Ladra Calibo alias Ka Jason, 24, both belong to the Main Regional Guerrilla Unit of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.
Hamos said that Second Lieutenant Maverick Rey Mira facilitated the surrender of the two, who are residents of the village of Balagon, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Dungog and Calibo surrendered on Tuesday, May 16, to the troops in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.
Hamos said they cited extreme hardships, hunger and unfulfilled promises as among the reasons why they decided to leave the NPA and surrender to live a peaceful life.
He said they joined NPA after they were enticed that they will receive P10,000 monthly, which turned out to be a false promise.
He said they will facilitate the enrollment of the two NPA surrenderees to the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
He said each of them will receive livelihood training and cash assistance to help them reintegrate to the mainstream of the society once their application will be approved. (SunStar Philippines)