5 more Cordillera guerrillas surrender

MANILA, Philippines - Five more New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to the Cordillera police last week, bringing to 16 the number of armed cadres of the communist group who had given themselves up.

The rebel returnees included the wife, son and daughter-in-law of Jovencio Balweg, the ranking NPA leader in Abra who was captured in Baguio City last May 18.

Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestano, Cordillera police director, said, “They surrendered because they realized that the armed struggle they had joined was pointless. They do not want to follow the footsteps of Balweg who spent at least 30 years with the NPA but his life did not prosper and he instead got sick.” – Non Alquitran, Artemio Dumlao