CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte — Two individuals believed to be members of the New People’s Army recently yielded to state troops in Sultan Kudarat after residents of the village where they sought refuge reported to soldiers about their presence in the community.
Joint Task Force Central commander Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera on Tuesday said that the two rebels peacefully surrendered to the troops of the 57th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Bagangan, Kapilan, Lebak in Sultan Kudarat.
Rillera identified the two NPAs as alias Malakas and Justice, believed to be both active members of Baghdad Platoon, East Daguma Front, Sub-Regional Committee, Daguma, Far South Mindanao Region.
They also turned over their firearms to the military — an M16A1 Rifle and the M14 Rifle both with magazines and ammunition.
Rillera said that the surrender was made possible by the immediate report of the residents regarding their presence in the area.
Meantime, 57th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Guillermo Mabute Jr. lauded the intelligence information provided by residents in the village that helped in the surrender of the rebels.
“We were continuously monitoring their whereabouts after the recent encounter with troops of the 57IB in the nearby municipalities where they have scampered into different directions following the clash,” Mabute said.
He described the duo’s surrender as a “right move” to be with their families again.
“Their families are residing in our area of responsibility so they will soon be reunited with their respective families,” Mabute added.