4 NPAs surrender to the Army in Maguindanao

AMPATUAN, Maguindanao - Four members of the New People's Army laid down arms and surrendered to the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Barangay Kamasi,Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Thursday, the miltiary today said.The NPA rebels who are members of the Platoon Myphone of Guerilla Front 73 are Ariel Biluwal, 29, Oting Ginta, 21, Michael Malik, 23, and Jane Gintangan, female, 19, old all of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. Theyturned over 2 M-16 Armalite rifles, a homemade Uzi and an improvised explosive device.The return of the NPA rebels to the folds of the law is the outcome of an effective collaboration between the military, civil authorities and traditional leaders in addressing the social issues that lured the communities in joining the NPA, according to Major General Dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division commander, said.The surrenderees will be presented to the local government of Sultan Kudarat for the processing of benefits accorded to former rebels as embodied in the Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (CLIP) of the government.