Love struck rebels surrender to gov't forces
Wanting to get married and live peacefully, two members of the New People's Army (NPA) surrendered to the Philippine Army.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is now coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for any assistance to former rebels Aldren Glaiz, 20, and Relyn Celeste, 19, both of Tapaz town in Capiz. Glaiz and Celeste surrendered to Lt. Col. Earl Baliao of the 47th Infantry Battalion based in Calinog last May 25, 2007. Arrangements are also being made for their security because of the apprehension that their former comrades would come for them.
The two were tasked to cook for the unit of Francisco Balaoing, who leads an NPA unit operating in the upland barangays nestled in the boundary of Calinog town in Iloilo and Tapaz. They became close and eventually fell in love with each other. But they kept their relationship from their leaders for fear that the latter would disapprove.
Glaiz and Celeste also said that another reason why they surrendered was that he became disillusioned with the armed movement.
"I see no future in them. There is no direction," Glaiz stressed.
Glaiz had been with the NPA for close to two years already, military officials revealed.
Celeste said that she joined the NPA hoping to be issued a gun and join in the offensives. Instead, she was assigned to cook for her comrades.
"I joined because I've always wanted to feel how it is to have a gun. I've always been thrilled by guns," she expressed. Celeste was recruited to the NPA when she was just 17 years old. "Now I regret joining the NPA. They just made me to cook and follow them wherever they go."
Glaiz said that he broached the idea of running away while he and Celeste were cooking. Celeste agreed with Glaiz.
He and Celeste left their camp at about 11 p.m. last March. They went to Estancia town, afterwards they lived with their relative in Iloilo City.
It was Celeste's father, Marlon, who convinced the two to formally surrender to the government. The elder Celeste is also a rebel returnee.
"This is a big blow to the movement. Imagine the rebels would all the more starve in the mountains because there would be nobody that would cook for them anymore," Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez of the Civil Relations Group quipped.
With their surrender, Glaiz said that their unit is down to six persons.