From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 13): 6 NPA sympathizers yield in South Cotabato village
Six suspected New People’s Army (NPA) sympathizers surrendered to government troops inLake Sebu town in South Cotabato over the weekend following weeks of negotiations.
Lt. Col Zhalimar Imperial, commander of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion (IB), said Monday the NPA “mass sympathizers” mainly decided to surrender to renew their allegiance to the government.
He said the six rebel sympathizers yielded last Saturday to their peace and development teams stationed in Sitios Datal Ligao and Siete in Barangay Tasiman,Lake Sebu
“These are not (full-fledged) NPA members but mass sympathizers who are members of women and farmers’ groups that are supported by the rebels,” he said in a radio interview.
Imperial said the NPA sympathizers, whose identities were withheld for security reasons, are currently undergoing some debriefing through its peace and development teams.
The 27th IB deployed anew late last year its peace and development teams in various remote communities in the municipalities ofLake Sebu
Imperial said the rebels have been supposedly luring tribal residents to join their ranks by promising them regular salaries and other monetary benefits.
He said several former NPA recruits who surrendered last year confirmed that rebel leaders had promised them a monthly salary of P5,000 during their recruitment.
“All these were plain promises and never materialized. Some of their actually became disillusioned and surrendered to us because of this,” he said.
The official said they are continually tracking down the movements of NPA rebels, specifically those under its Front 73, through their peace and development teams.
He added that they have not monitored so far any significant movement by the rebels in the two municipalities, especially in its upland areas.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=604627
Six suspected New People’s Army (NPA) sympathizers surrendered to government troops in
Lt. Col Zhalimar Imperial, commander of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion (IB), said Monday the NPA “mass sympathizers” mainly decided to surrender to renew their allegiance to the government.
He said the six rebel sympathizers yielded last Saturday to their peace and development teams stationed in Sitios Datal Ligao and Siete in Barangay Tasiman,
“These are not (full-fledged) NPA members but mass sympathizers who are members of women and farmers’ groups that are supported by the rebels,” he said in a radio interview.
Imperial said the NPA sympathizers, whose identities were withheld for security reasons, are currently undergoing some debriefing through its peace and development teams.
The 27th IB deployed anew late last year its peace and development teams in various remote communities in the municipalities of
Imperial said the rebels have been supposedly luring tribal residents to join their ranks by promising them regular salaries and other monetary benefits.
He said several former NPA recruits who surrendered last year confirmed that rebel leaders had promised them a monthly salary of P5,000 during their recruitment.
“All these were plain promises and never materialized. Some of their actually became disillusioned and surrendered to us because of this,” he said.
The official said they are continually tracking down the movements of NPA rebels, specifically those under its Front 73, through their peace and development teams.
He added that they have not monitored so far any significant movement by the rebels in the two municipalities, especially in its upland areas.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=604627