CAGAYAN de Oro City--Sixty-six members and supporters of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) yield to the local government in a remote village on the border of Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Norte.
The mass surrender took place Friday in Mindulao, a remote village, part of Magsaysay, the last town east of Misamis Oriental, but the military released the details of the surrender only on Saturday night.
Lt. Roel Maglalang, the spokesperson of the army’s 23IB, said that Magsaysay town Mayor Rey B. Buhisan, Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, 23IB commanding officer, Magsaysay Police Chief Capt. Stephen Benbian F. Latar and the representatives from various government line agencies witnessed the surrender rites.
Maglalang said that the mass surrender was done through the efforts of the joint of the 23IB, the PNP, the village officials of Mindulao and the local government unit of Magsaysay town.
In his message, Mayor Buhisan told the surrendered rebels of the government’s serious mission of attaining peace and development by ending the local communist armed conflict.
“Every agency is directed to use its available resources and budget to provide services to the local populace to achieve lasting peace and development,” Buhisan said.
For his part, Lt. Col. Paulo thanked the surrendered rebels and supporters for trusting the government and vowed that the government would assist them to start a new, peaceful and productive life.
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