Citing the hardships they encountered in the armed struggle, 11 communist rebels in Sorsogon province surrendered to government troops on Christmas Day. (Photo courtesy of Army鈥檚 903rd IB)
LIGAO CITY 鈥� Eleven active and regular members of the New People鈥檚 Army voluntarily surrendered to the government forces in Castilla town, Sorsogon province on Christmas Day, the military said Monday (Dec. 26).
Brig. Gen. Aldwine Almase, the Army鈥檚 903rd Infantry Brigade (IB) commander, said the rebel returnees also turned over their firearms when they surrendered at the 903rd IB headquarters in Barangay San Rafael.
According to Almase, the rebels abandoned the 鈥渃ommunist terrorist group (CTG)鈥� because of the hardships they encountered at the hands of their leaders.
鈥淚 am encouraging the remaining CTGs to abandon the armed struggle and return to the folds of the law, where they can enjoy freedom and assistance, such as housing, livelihood, educational, and medical programs, and/or benefits from the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC),鈥� Almase said in a statement.
The rebel returnees received cash incentives and food packs as part of the government鈥檚 鈥淓nhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.