BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two couples who are members of the New People’s Army gave up the armed struggle and separately surrendered to the Philippine Army and National Police in Negros Island on June 9 and 10, respectively.
Rebel couple Ricky dela Cruz and his wife, Cherry Ann Rebanuel, both political instructors of the dismantled South East Front under the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/ Siquijor, surrendered yesterday to the 11th Infantry Battalion and police in Brgy. Napacao, Siaton, Negros Oriental.
De la Cruz, 36, with aliases of Yago, Wilcross, Jolan, Gary, Hadji and Cline, served the CPP NPA for 17 years, while Rebanuel, 23, was a member of the armed group for five years, according to Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander.
Arevalo said the couple finally realized the senseless armed struggle after having been in the rebel movement for several years.
Another rebel couple surrendered to the Himamaylan City Police Station on June 9.
The couple, whose identities are being withheld by the police, admitted to participating in several encounters against government forces since 2019 in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City.
PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said that the rebel couple decided to surrender as they were already tired of being always on the run, and were enticed by government programs being extended to former rebels.
Two other rebels gave themselves up to the 82nd Infantry Battalion, surrendering a caliber .38 revolver and a fragmentation grenade, according to a statement issued by the 3rd Infantry Division.*
