ZAMBOANGA CITY, (PNA) – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebels has surrendered to government authorities in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Friday.
Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca identified the surrenderee as Jhomer Veraño, 17, alias Ka Jack.
Huesca said that Veraño surrendered around 4 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Dawa, Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur following series of negotiations by joint police and military team.
Veraño, a resident of Barangay Tuburan, Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur, has revealed during debriefing that he had just completed a four-month training after he was recruited to join the NPA, according to Huesca.
He said Veraño decided to surrender as it is very lonely to be away with his family.
He said that Veraño is a member of Squad Dos, Section Committee KARA of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) under the leadership of Ka Romanito Sumasay.
Veraño turned over a caliber .38 revolver when he surrendered.
Veraño was turned over to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) since he is still a minor, according to Huesca.