TWO high ranking members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental surrendered before elements of the 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) of the Philippine Army in the town Hinoba-an in Negros Occidental last week.
15IB commander, Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Cariño, identified the two as Hermosilla Villamor, 45, a front committee member of the NPA's South West Front in Negros; and Teody Manorte, 27, a squad leader of the SYP platoon of the NPA's South West Front.
Cariño said Villamor was the former finance and medical officer of the insurgents, and also previously served as Party Committee in Bohol, before becoming a political guide to the SYP platoon.
The two surrendered through the efforts of the Community Support Program of the 15IB in Barangay Sangke in the town Hinoba-an in Negros Occidental.
When questioned by the army as to why they surrendered, both have stated that they have become increasingly dissatisfied with the NPA's ideological hopes and dwindling leadership.
Both have also stated that they missed being far away from their loved ones.
Cariño added, the 15IB is now in the process of filing their documents, enrolling them to the government's Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which would help in reintegrating them back into the society. (TDE)