A veteran and battled-tested platoon leader of the New People's Army who had served the rebel movement for 11 years, yesterday surrendered to the 11th Infantry Battalion.

The rebel returnee was identified as Romulo Ellano, former platoon leader of the defunct Regional Guerilla Unit of the Negros Island Regional Party Committee operating in Southern Negros.

Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil, 11th IB commander, said last night that Ellano, alias "Sword", also surrendered a M-1 carbine rifle.

The surrender of Ellano, 42, of La Castellana, came more than a week after three Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan members also gave themselves up to the 61st IB in Cauayan and surrendered an M-16 rifle and two revolvers.

Military investigations show that Ellano joined the CPP-NPA in 1983 and participated in numerous battles with government forces in Southern Negros.

Among them the raid on 3rd Scout Ranger Company headquarters in Isabela in 1984, which resulted in the killing of 12 soldiers, the ambush-slay of 12 more soldiers in Binalbagan in 1986, and the attack on the Caningay detachment of the 7th IB in Candoni in 1989 that claimed the lives of nine soldiers and three civilians.

Manangquil said that Ellano had gone inactive for almost a decade with the CPP-NPA before he decided to surrender.*GPB

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