NPA rebel yields 19 guns

MANILA, Philippines — A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who surrendered to the military in Samar has turned over 19 high-powered firearms.

Anthony Encinas surrendered to the 46th Infantry Battalion (IB) on Monday after walking for 37 hours from an NPA hideout in the hinterlands of Basey to his home in Barangay Antol in Calbiga town, according to Capt. Ryan Layug, spokesman for the Joint Task Force Storm and 8th Infantry Division (ID).

Layug said Encinas was with the Bugsok Platoon of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

Encinas turned over a .45-caliber pistol when he surrendered. The 18 other guns – four M14 rifles, six M16, four AK47, a shotgun, a 9mm, a caliber .38 revolver and an M79 grenade launcher – were recovered yesterday.

Layug noted that Encinas’ mother was among those who attended a dialogue initiated by the military with relatives of NPA rebels in Calbiga on Nov. 8.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, 8th ID commander, lauded the 801st IB and 46th Infantry Brigade for reaching out to parents and relatives of rebels.

”Ang pangyayaring ito ang nagpapatunay na ang local peace engagement ay mas epektibo upang masolusyunan itong local communist armed conflict,” he said.