Army welcomes former rebel
AN ex-member of the New People’s Army (NPA) has surrendered to the government army.
Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo identified the surrenderee as Ka JR/Oscar/Joey, a former member of the dismantled Komiteng Larangang Gerilya-Sierra Madre (KLG-SM) of the NPA.
Costelo said the ex-NPA rebel gave himself up to combined elements of the 7th ID’s 91st Infantry (Sinagtala) Battalion led by Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio, the 86th Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, Baler municipal police and the 1st provincial mobile force company-Aurora provincial police.
Following his surrender, the former rebel also gave up the next day his M-14 rifle with magazine loaded with nine rounds of ammunition.
Records showed that at least 60 high-ranking officers and members of the KLG-SM have been neutralized within the 7th ID area of responsibility.
“We welcome the latest surrender of Ka JR/Oscar/Joey and we also hope that his courage will inspire those other members who are hesitant to present themselves to the authorities. We also thank the RTF-ELCAC for their efforts in calling the members of the dismantled KLG-SM to surrender and encourage them to be part in pursuing the peace and development advocacy of the government,” said the 7th ID chief.
