2 alleged NPA rebels yield to cops in Rizal province
LUCENA CITY – Two alleged members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered Wednesday with their firearms to the police in Rizal province.
The Region 4A police reported on Thursday, July 20, that Jerry Gatacilo, known in the rebel movement as “Ka Engineer,” turned himself in around 4:30 p.m. to the Rizal police headquarters at Camp General Licerio Geronimo in Taytay town.
The report said the former Antipolo City-based communist guerrilla surrendered a caliber .38 revolver with four bullets.
Also around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, another former Red-fighter, Foning Bueno or “Ka Aklas” also surrendered at the same camp.
Bueno, based in Rodriguez town, turned over a caliber .38 revolver with four bullets and bomb detonation cords.
Their surrender was made possible after a series of negotiations with government representatives, the report said.
The police and other government agencies are preparing the necessary assistance to the former rebels in their reintegration protocols under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
A rebel returnee can avail of firearm remuneration and housing, medical, loans, and legal assistance among other forms of help from the government.
Last week, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar, claimed that from around 2,000 members reported last year, the NPA is now down to around 1,800 fighters, particularly due to continuous surrenders among their ranks.
Established on March 29, 1969, the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, had 25,000 members at its height around 1987, according to military estimates.
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