34 NPA guerillas surrender to 19th IB in North Cotabato

NORTH COTABATO - Thirty four members of the New People’s Army surrendered to the military Tuesday.The rebels yielded to the Army’s 19thInfantry Battalion based in the hinterland Magpet town in North Cotabato.They agreed to return to the fold of law through the joint intercession of the commander of the 19thIB, Lt. Col. Ehrlich Noel Paraso, and local officials in Magpet.Two of the rebels, Fidel Sicao and John Manumba, separately told reporters they decided to surrender due to the worsening rivalry among NPA leaders squabbling for control of agricultural enclaves whose residents they subject to collection of protection money on periodic basis.Sicao said the military’s continuing offensives have weakened their ranks tactically as a result of the deaths of many comrades in encounters with pursuing soldiers in the past three months.Paraso said they have requested local officials to help provide livelihood support to the 34 NPAs to hasten their return to mainstream society.The rebels have pledged allegiance to the government in the presence of local officials.They turned over to the 19thIB assorted firearms and improvised explosive devices.