By Alexander Lopez

PATH TO PEACE. A surrendered AK-47 rifle and ammunition surrendered by New People’s Army rebel “Rebisco/Buhay” who surrendered to the Surigao del Sur police on Sunday (March 30, 2025). The former rebel operated in Caraga’s hinterlands since 2024. (Photo courtesy of SDSPPO)

BUTUAN CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) fighter operating in the Caraga Region voluntarily surrendered to authorities in Surigao del Sur over the weekend.

“Rebisco/Buhay” joined the NPA in 2024 and was with the Guerrilla Front 19’s Platoon 7.

He turned himself in to the Provincial Special Operations Group, surrendering an AK-47 rifle with ammunition and a rifle grenade, which are weapons typically used in NPA operations across the mountainous borders of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur provinces.

Col. Harry Domingo, Surigao del Sur police director, said the surrender is evidence of effective community engagement.

“This demonstrates our communities’ growing trust in government,” Domingo said Tuesday. “We guarantee safe passage and support through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) for all who choose peace.”

The surrenderer is undergoing debriefing and will receive psychosocial support before entering the E-CLIP, which provides livelihood assistance and housing to former rebels. (PNA)