MANILA: A total of 53 communist rebels have surrendered in Western Visayas since January, the Philippine Army said on Friday.
Majoe Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd division, said 37 of the rebel returnees had surrendered in Negros, an area where the insurgents have a strong presence. The rest had yielded to security forces in Panay.
He said the rebels had also turned over three high-powered firearms, 10 low-powered firearms two hand grenades and a rifle grenade to authorities.
“More rebels continue to realise the futility of armed violence,” said Brigadier General Aurelio Baladad, chief of the Army’s 3rd division.
Suspected rebels captured
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Marines on Friday captured two suspected Abu Sayyaf Group members in Patikul, Sulu, a military official said yesterday.
The captured suspects were identified as Salih Madjam alias Undag Dami and his brother Kinang alias Tinnam Dami.
Authorities believe that the two siblings belong to the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Juhurim Hussein.
Colonel Jose Joriel Cenabre, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu and 2nd Marine Brigade, said Hussein’s group was responsible for series of kidnappings in Sulu.
Cenabre said elements of the 11th Special Operations Platoon led by 2Lt Michael Loon under the Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 caught the suspects at around 6.30am in the vicinity of Barangay Pansul.
“The suspects were surprised as the troops manoeuvred and cornered them,” Cenabre said.
Measles cases increase
BAGUIO CITY: Cases of measles in Cordillera have been rising with government health monitoring officials recording a 224-percent hike.
The health department’s monthly January to August 31 surveillance report revealed measles tops the list of illnesses with the biggest increase.
Measles was followed by meningitis, with an 81 percent hike, acute encephalitis syndrome (67 percent), and non–neonatal tetanus (57 percent).
In 2012, there were only 49 suspected cases of measles in the highlands, and this year there have been 159.
According to government physician Erin Baclig of the Centre for Health Development – Licensing and Regulations Support Division, measles, a viral disease, is highly contagious.
Agencies
