CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte -- Three regular members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who desired to have a peaceful life, voluntarily surrendered on February 5, 2022 at the Headquarters 29th Infantry “Matatag” Battalion stationed at Brgy. Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

The said rebels were identified as alias Zhia, 27 years old, Vice Commanding Officer (VCO)/ Political Instructor (P.I) of SYP16B, GF16, NEMRC, PSR listed surrendered with her father alias Jing, 53 years old, Milisya ng Bayan (MB) member of SYP19B, GF19, NEMRC and alias Dondon, 29 years old, armed member of SYP16A, GF16, NEMRC.

The surrenderees brought with them one serialized AK47 Rifle, one serialized Armscor shotgun, and one serialized Garand Rifle with scope.

According to alias Zhia, they were encouraged by their mother to surrender and attain their hopes to live peacefully.

“Gusto na gyud mi mamuyo ug malinawon. Giagni sad mi ni mama nga musurrender aron dili nami magsige ug puyo sa bukid, magtago-tago sa mga kasundaluhan. (We already want to live in peace, my mother encouraged us to surrender so that we will not live in the mountains and not continue to hide from the government forces)," Zhia said.

Alias Dondon also recounted the challenges they faced in the mountains and how this, and his desire to give his son a better future, motivated him to surrender. 

“Kapoy kayo among kahimtang didto sa bukid, gutom mi didto, dungag pa ang kakapoy nga akong nasinatian kung maglakaw mi. Nisurrender ko kay para sad sa akong anak aron sad mudako sya nga kumpleto mi ug matagaan sad ako sya ug maayo nga kaugmaon. (Our experience there in the mountains is so tiresome. We have suffered hunger and the extra fatigue while on mission. I have surrendered for the sake of my son so that he can grow with a complete family and that I can give him a better future)," the surrenderee added.

LtCol. Jason M Saldua, commanding officer of 29IB, said in a statement that he thanked the rebels for heeding the call of the government to surrender. 

“Kabalo ko nga dili sayon magsige ug lakaw-lakaw sa bukid, magtago-tago labi na sa kasundaluhan. Sakto sila sa ilahang desisyon nga munaog ug musurender diri sa amoa. Matagaan sila ug higayon nga mabag-o ang ang ilahang kinabuhi layo sa kakapoy, kagutom, kadelikado sa bukid. Nagpalamat kami sa ilahang pagnaog. (I know that it is not easy to walk in the mountains, to hide especially from the government troops. Their decision to surrender is right.  They will be given a chance to change their lives away from hunger, tiredness and danger. We thanked them for heeding our call)," LtCol. Saldua said. 

"To all others, I am calling you once again to surrender while there is still time. Our unit is always open to embrace you as you will change your future for the better," the army official added. (2Lt. Rose Ann Mae U. Cordova, CMO Officer, 29IB PA/PIA-Agusan del Norte)