11 rebels surrender in Bukidnon, South Cotabato —military

Eleven rebels have surrendered to authorities in Bukidnon and South Cotabato, according to the military.

On Sunday, Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said two rebels surrendered to the Joint Task Force Central on Saturday.

WestMinCom commander Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr. identified them as Abraham "Tantan" Arida and Bryan "Bornok" Dusa of Platoon Central, Guerilla Front Musa, Far South Mindanao Region

“[They] submitted themselves to the troops of the 5th Special Forces Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel  Randy Banaag in Barangay Lamlahak, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato at 9 a.m.,” Vinluan said.

“The duo handed over one 5.56mm rifle, one improvised explosive device, and one M14 rifle,” he added.

Arida and Dusa were brought to the 11th Special Forces Company in Barangay Lambingi in the town of Banga for consolidation.

Then, they were transferred to the Alpha Company of the 5th Special Forces Battalion in Kablon, Tupi for the conduct of custodial debriefing.

According to the military, the two revealed during the debriefing that they decided to abandon the armed struggle due to “hardships, hunger, and uncertainties of life as the government troops launch all-out offensives against the terror group.”

“We will see to it that they will be enrolled in the E-CLIP of the government,” Banaag said.

Joint Task Force Central commander Major General Juvymax Uy said  the momentum will be sustained and all-out offensives will continue against the rebels.

On Saturday, nine rebels from notorious guerrilla units in Bukidnon surrendered to the military, said the 1st Special Forces Battalion under the 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

In a statement on the 52nd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Saturday, it added that the rebels quit due to mental health concerns and over supposed illegal activities.

A couple who were allegedly members of the communist group were identified as Arnie "Lee" Capin, 24-year-old male, and Etchel "Langlang" Litan, 21-year-old female, who served as mass organizers and guerrilla fighters under the Guerrilla Front 68 in Bukidnon, the military said.

Capin was allegedly a political instructor, while Litan was allegedly a medical officer of the rebel group.

Brigadier General Ferdinand Barandon, commander of 403rd Infantry Brigade, said that National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) “facilitated the responsive delivery of government services in the remotest communities and this helped a lot in encouraging the disgruntled communist rebels to abandon their violent armed struggle.” — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News