By Joseph Jubelag GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Amid the ongoing military offensive of the government, seven New New People’s Army (NPA) rebels yielded to 73rd Infantry Battalion in Sarangani Province. New People's Army (MANILA BULLETIN) Lt..Col. Ronaldo Valdez, 73rd Infantry Battalion (73rd IB) commander, identified the surrenderers as Ariel Tumbo, alias Justin; Roger Fa, alias Bamboo; Ariel Fa, alias Jasper; and Larry Campaan, alias Jasig. They surrendered to 73rd IB personnel in Barangay Alegria, Alabel, Sarangani. Three other NPA surrenderers, Jemel Pondong, Onil Pondong and Roger Balandan yielded to 73rd IB personnel in Malapatan, Sarangani. Valdez said the NPA guerrillas were prompted to yield after their local commander Richard Muda and political officer, Joan Iwag surrendered last month to military authorities in Alabel town. Muda and Iwag also yielded two caliber .30 Garrand rifles. Valdez said the NPA surrenderers were former members of the NPA Guerilla Front Tala operating in the provinces of Sarangani and Davao Occidental. He said the intensified military operations launched by government troops on NPA strongholds within the boundary of Sarangani and Davao Occidental forced the NPA rebels in the area to return to the fold of the law, and avail of the government’s localized peace initiatives under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program. Two NPA members were killed during an encounter with 73rd IB troopers in Barangay Kinam, Malapatan last January 29. The NPA surrenderers claimed that they opted to yield as they could no longer bear the extreme anxiety, sleepless nights and difficulties while always on the run from pursuing government forces holding up in the mountains. “I strongly urge and call other rebels who are victims of deception of the NPA to lay down their arms and go back to the fold of law,” Valdez said. He said the rebel returnees will be enlisted into the CLIP program for the provision of cash and livelihood assistance.