8 NPAs surrender anew in Sultan Kudarat
Local News • 15:08 PM Sat Feb 3, 2018
821
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, (back to camera) 33rd IB chief, speaks to NPA rebels who decided to surrender in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat. (33rd IB Photo)
BAGUMBAYAN,
Sultan Kudarat – Eight more communist rebels in Sultan Kudarat
have decided to return to the folds of the law Friday, an Army colonel today
said.
Lt. Colonel
Harold Cabunoc, commander of 33rd Infantry Battalion, said the
rebels decided to come down after getting exhausted in the military’s
relentless pursuit operations against New Peoples’ Army (NPA).
Cabunoc said
to date, a total of 111 rebels have surrendered to the 33rd IB.
He identified
the surrenderees as Romeo Dongco alias Taiwan, 29 years old, Jun-Jun Okom,
29, Nasio Dungco, 28, Binta Okom, 50, Batoy Tayak, 49, Goong Tugi, 47, Justin
Tugi, 21, and a child warrior named Raffy Blah, 16.
Cabunoc said
three of those who surrendered have executed an affidavit linking a local
government official to the communist NPA terrorists.
He
facilitated the organization of the lumads as NPA fighters purposely to reclaim
our ancestral lands. He welcomed Ka George and Ka Makmak in his house to
recruit us in May 2015, said one former NPA rebel.
Cabunoc did
not name the local official.
The recent
surrender of eight rebels was facilitated by Bagumbayan Mayor Jonalette De
Pedro and Chief Inspector Garyflor Marfil of Bagumbayan town police office.
Cabunoc said
he expect more rebels are expected to surrender due to the ongoing pursuit
operations against them in the mountains of Sultan Kudarat.