2 NPAs involved in President Roxas police office attack yield

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Tired of hiding in the mountains and for health reasons, two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) voluntarily surrendered to the soldiers of 57th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Imamaling, Magpet, North Cotabato, the Army here said.Marco Engay Via, 39 and wife Gina Calimpitan Via, 34, voluntarily yielded to the military on Monday during simple acceptance ceremony in Barangay Imamalang, Magpet, North Cotabato. Colonel Nilo Vinluan, chief of the 57th Infantry Battalion whose unit covers the town of Magpet, said the couple's deteriorating health conditions forced them to yield.Vinluan said Papa and Mama Daku (big), the couple's name in the revolutionary movement, surrendered to the efforts of a certain Sgt. Morales of the 57th IB Bravo company stationed in Barangay Imamaling. According to Vinluan, the Vias were recruited by communist rebels sometime last year with the promise they will be compensated. The couple revealed to me that NPA promised them of P4,000 monthly compensation provided that they are willing to fight for the cause of the revolutionary movement,” Col. Vinluan.He said the couple and a son, who was also recruited, received their compensation during the first few months but later it suddenly stopped.Vinluan also said the couple admitted they participated in the May 2014 attack on the police station of President Rojas, North Cotabato. Actually they were fooled by this group who claimed as soldiers for the poor. The NPA even accused us (57thIB) as berdugo,” Vinluan added. Vinluan said that aside from being ill, hardship and hunger were among the reasons why the couple decided to return in the folds of law. However, the son remained in NPA organization in the mountains of Magpet. Vinluan said the couple is still in Army custody receiving medical attention. We don’t have reasons to detain them since no charges were being filed against the couple,” Vinluan said. The Army's 10th Infantry Division where the 57th IB belonged, issued a statement on the Via surrender. Joining the CPP/NPA is a very big mistake we have committed in our lives, with the soldier’s help, this is a second chance for us to redeem our normal lives that were denied to us by the NPA after having fooled us to join their group through sweet promises,” the 10th ID of the Eastern Mindanao Commandstatement said, quoting the couple.Eastmincom reported that since April 2013 there are already around 300 NPA who surrendered with their assorted high powered firearms and another 101 NPA members who surrendered without firearms in Eastern Mindanao area.