The two rebel brothers, members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Northern Samar, returned to the government on Monday.
Brothers Ka Ariel, 51, Ka Aries, 43, are members of the Front Guerilla Unit (FGU), Front Committee 1 (FC 1), under Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC 1) which acts in the first district of Northern Samar. They surrendered to the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office.
Their surrender included the turnover of an Elisco M16 A1 rifle, a .45 caliber handgun, magazines, and 30 rounds of ammunition.
The siblings allegedly admitted to Colonel Arnel Apud, Provincial Director of the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office, that they were involved in various activities such as raids and ambush on government troops.
Ka Arnel added that they were involved in the attack on the Philippine Army camp in Barangay Palanit and Salvacion in San Isidro town in 1991 where their group then obtained various weapons.
He said this was followed by extortion activities.
The siblings decided to leave the group for the peace of their family.
Their surrender took root after negotiations conducted by the 1st Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st NSPMFC) led by Police Major Edwin Oloan.
Rebel brothers surrender in Northern Samar
The Northern Samar Police Provincial Office still expects many former rebels to return to the government.
The siblings are in the custody of the 1st NSPMFC and documents are being arranged for them to receive benefits under the government’s Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Cirilito Sobejana said local government authorities and residents in Maguindanao should remain vigilant following the encounter between the military and the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) last Saturday.
The military and armed members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) clashed in Datu Paglas town, Maguindanao, Saturday morning. Government troops immediately took control of the situation.
According to the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, about 20 BIFF members clashed with soldiers on Saturday in the town.
No soldier was killed in the encounter.
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