4 ‘Reds’ get tired of armed struggle, surrender in Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY -- After getting tired of the armed struggle, four alleged active members of the communist New People's Army rebels gave themselves up to authorities in separate areas in Nueva Ecija on Wednesday.

In Gabaldon, Lt. Col. Alexander C. Aurelio, former chief of the provincial intelligence branch said two NPA rebels surrendered without their firearms to the police and military in Bgy. Malinao following negotiations being jointly facilitated by the 1st provincial mobile force company, the local police, the regional mobile force battalion 3, and the Army's 703rd Brigade and the 91st Infantry Battalion.

The two rebel surrenderees are identified as alias Jex/Lei/Mali/Carding/Supremo, 19, of Bgy. 28, Caloocan City, and alias Jerome, 23, of Malinao, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija.

"Pagod na sila sa kanilang maling pakikibaka kaya nagbalik-loob na sila sa ating pamahalaan," said Lt. Col. Aurelio, who now heads the 1ST PMFC after its erstwhile chief was transferred to the Police Regional Office 3 in Camp Olivas, Pampanga.

Aurelio described alias Jex/Lei/Mali/Carding/Supremo as a former youth organizer of the leftist group Anakbayan while alias Jerome was formerly designated as medic/assistant gunner of Platoon dos, Kumiteng Larangang Gerilya-Sierra Madre under codename Conan.

In San Jose City, Lt. Col. Marco A. Dadez, company commander of the 2nd PMFC based here said two NPA rebels yielded to them and the military at 1 p.m.

Dadez identified the two rebels as Ka Robert, 34, a municipal employee, of Bgy. Alalay-Grande, and Ka Ramon/Ka Bengson, 52, municipal driver, of Bgy. San Isidro, both of Lupao, Nueva Ecija.

Dadez said they were former members of the Arcadio Peralta command operating in the area of Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Aurora or KLG Caraballo.

Col. Leon Victor Z. Rosete, provincial police director said the four rebel surrenderees are now under police custody for proper documentation and for tactical debriefing.