Four members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), two of them pregnant, have surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB) and police authorities in Negros Oriental, a military official said yesterday.

In an interview, Lt. Colonel Michael Aquino, the 11IB commanding officer, said the women surrendered on Monday, December 18, at their battalion headquarters, while the two males yielded to the police’s 705th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 and the 11IB on Sunday, December 17.

“This is a result of continuous sustainment operations to encourage the remnants of the dismantled guerrilla front in southern Negros to surrender, so they can be with their families this holiday season,” Aquino said.

The female rebels with the aliases “Sarah,” a member of Squad 3 taxation team, and “Aubre,” the educational and assistant political officer, both of the dismantled NPA Southeast Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (SEF-KR-NCBS).

Sarah and Aubre are pregnant, five months and nine months, respectively, residing in Sitio Katubahan, Barangay Tayak in Siaton.

Meanwhile, the two male counterparts — “Ka Delfin” and “Ka Bombo” — surrendered to the Community Support Program at Barangay Milagrosa in Negros Oriental’s Sta. Catalina town.

The two, who are also members of the NPA Southeast Front, handed over an M16 rifle, ammunition, a rifle grenade, and a .38-caliber pistol to authorities during their surrender.

Aquino said Ka Delfin and his group figured in a clash with government troops last August 24 in Sitio Taleo, Barangay Milagrosa, Sta. Catalina, where his son, “Ka Ruby,” was killed.

Aquino said the surrender of the four would further weaken the NPA Southeast Front.

The 11IB, in coordination with Negros Oriental provincial government, will facilitate the enrollment of the surrenderers to the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program. (PNA)