21 NPA rebels surrender in Negros, South Cotabato  

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-one New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have surrendered in South Cotabato and Negros island, authorities reported yesterday.

Eleven members of the Far South Mindanao Regional Committee, including a squad leader,  surrendered to the police in Tupi and Surallah towns, Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said.

He said the rebels were tracked down and convinced to surrender on Monday by personnel of the South Cotabato police First Provincial Mobile Force Company and intelligence unit.

The rebel-returnees were presented to concerned local government units and placed under the temporary custody of the police for debriefing.

Ten communist rebels who were with the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/ Siquijor surrendered to the 62nd Infantry Battalion, according to Lt. Col. William Pesase.

The rebel returnees turned over an M16 A1 assault rifle with magazine, a Colt M203 40mm grenade launcher, two caliber .45 pistols, a 357 Magnum revolver and bullets.

Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, welcomed the surrenderees, saying they are victims of “ deceptive tactics” of the communist group.

The military had earlier said the NPA had suffered significant losses with the neutralization and surrender of its leaders and members.

It said the rebel group is down to 2,112 fighters, with 17 of its 22 remaining guerrilla fronts considered as weakened.—  Gilbert Bayoran