NEW LIFE AHEAD. Two communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels, hoping to be reunited with their families, peacefully surrender to the Army's 37th Infantry Battalion in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2022). More than 30 NPAs have so far surrendered to the Army's 6th Infantry Division area of operation since January 1 this year. (Photo courtesy of 6ID) CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao - Two more communist rebels have voluntarily surrendered to military forces in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, boosting the military's pronouncement that the communist New People's Army (NPA) in the province is on the decline. Lt. Col. Allen Van Estrera, the Army's 37th Infantry Battalion (IB) chief, said Tuesday the two rebels, both belonging to the Dragon Fruit Platoon, NPA East Daguma Front, Sub-Regional Committee Daguma, Far South Mindanao Region, have turned in a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38 caliber revolver. "They are very much welcome to return to the fold of the law," he said. With the surrender of two NPAs, the number of communist rebels who have surrendered to authorities here rose to more than 30 since January 1. In a statement, Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat, 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the surrender of former combatants was the result of the relentless efforts of 37IB coupled with the series of community support programs and focused military operations conducted with the strong support of the local government unit (LGU). For his part, Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army's 6th Infantry Division (ID) commander, said the NPA strength in Sultan Kudarat was weakening based on the information shared by those who surrendered earlier. On Sunday, two NPAs operating in T'boli, South Cotabato, also yielded to Army troops, Uy also head of the Army-led Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), said. On February 4, six communist rebels, including two field commanders, also surrendered to the 37IB in Lebak town. "Those weakened communist terrorist group members who remain entangled in their twisted violent ideology and terroristic ways must surrender now as the JTFC will always be relentless on its efforts to hunt them down," Uy said. He reiterated that the JTFC is always willing to accept surrendering rebels who decide to live a peaceful life with their families. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as "an integral and inseparable part" of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA) }