New People’s Army rebel returnees hit 2,263 in 2 months

MANILA, Philippines — At least 2,263 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and their supporters have surrendered since January, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported yesterday.

Records show that 607 of the surrenderees were regular NPA fighters while the rest were with the Militia ng Bayan, underground mass organizations (UGMOs) and their supporters.

Lt. Col. Emmanuel Garcia, AFP public affairs office chief, said around 90 percent of those who surrendered came from the Davao region.

Records show that a total of 371 UGMO members and their supporters surrendered in Compostela Valley last Jan. 20, 193 in Monkayo on Feb. 3 and 166 in Montevista on Feb. 19.

At least 264 NPA rebels were also killed or arrested in military operations from February to November last year.

Garcia attributed the mass surrender of NPA rebels and their supporters to relentless military operations, intelligence, civil-military and reintegration effort as well as peace and development programs of the AFP, police and local government units.

Citing the dissatisfaction expressed by the rebels against their leaders, the military said more communist guerrillas and their supporters are expected to return to the fold of the law.

“The AFP assures the public that operations against communist terrorists will continue to protect the people and communities from terrorist atrocities,” Garcia said.

President Duterte hosted dinners for more than 600 former rebels at Malacañang last month. He said he is not keen on resuming talks with the communists even as he raised the reward for every NPA rebel killed.