AFP negotiating for surrender of eight rebels
Following President Arroyo's offer of amnesty to communist insurgents, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is negotiating for the surrender of eight rebels.
"As of this moment the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Western Visayas and two (2) municipal mayors are negotiating for eight (8) NPA rebels to return to the folds of the law and live a normal life with their family," Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez of the AFP's 32nd civil relations unit said in a statement.
The disclosure came a week after Arroyo issued Proclamation 1377 which grants an amnesty program for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and its armed wing, the New People's Army.
Marquez, however, declined to name the two mayors who are also working for the surrender of the rebels.
These rebels think "that it is useless to be in the mountains while their Terrorist CPP/NPA,NDF Political Cadre are having their extravagant life in the city and their children are in the exclusive Catholic schools like the daughter of Ka Mayok and Concha Araneta Bocalla, while an ordinary NPA are living the miserable life," Marquez said of the eight rebels.
At the same time, he said that "the AFP in Region VI favor(s) the Amnesty program and welcomes the CPP-NPA-NDF members who would surrender to the government and avail of the livelihood assistance."
With the contribution by the various government agencies including the local governments, he said that there will be peace in the region in the future and an opportunity for better living conditions and economic prosperity.
Marquez believes that the amnesty program signals the end of the miseries and the 'nomadic way of life' of the communist rebels.
"They only need to denounce the armed struggle and then, peaceful life awaits them in the folds of law (something) that they will never experience by fighting against the government," he said.
Earlier this year, two members of the NPA surrendered to government forces.