New People鈥檚 Army (NPA) | 黑料社 file photo
LUCENA CITY 鈥� Three alleged members of the communist New People鈥檚 Army (NPA), including a 鈥渞evo-tax鈥� collector, surrendered on Wednesday (Feb. 21) to government authorities in Quezon and Batangas provinces.
The Army鈥檚 85th Infantry Battalion in Quezon reported that one alias 鈥淜enjie鈥� voluntarily submitted himself to Agdangan town Mayor Rhadam Aguilar on Wednesday morning in his capacity as chairman of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) and localized peace engagement committee.
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According to the report, the rebel returnee is a 鈥渇inance officer鈥� of the NPA Apolonio Mendoza Command tasked with collecting the so-called 鈥渞evo tax鈥� from contractors, businessmen and rich individuals in the province鈥檚 3rd and 4th districts.
The rebel surrenderer said he wanted to be with his family after long years of involvement in the underground communist movement.
The former NPA rebel had no firearm when he surrendered.
Lt. Colonel Joel Jonson, 85th IB commander, welcomed the surrender of the former Red fighter.
He called on the remaining remnants of the NPA in the province to surrender and return to the fold of the law.
Quezon province was declared free from the influence of communist insurgents in June last year.
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In Batangas province, police reported the surrender of two NPA rebels 鈥� 鈥淐into鈥� and 鈥淧aula,鈥� both male Red fighters, in separate events in Batangas City and Nasugbu town.
The report said Cinto also turned over one caliber.38 revolver and a rifle grenade.
Both former communist guerrillas used to operate in different parts of the province.
The government authorities are preparing assistance for the former rebels in their reintegration protocol under the government鈥檚 Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
A rebel returnee can avail himself of firearm remuneration and housing, medical care, loans, and legal assistance, among other forms of help from the government. INQ