TACLOBAN CITY, July 13 -- Sustained collaboration among government agencies under the whole-of-nation approach has led to the surrender of nine former members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Las Navas, Northern Samar, the Philippine Army said Monday.

The Army's 8th Infantry Division (8ID) said the former rebels voluntarily abandoned the armed struggle and returned to the fold of the law following coordinated efforts by the Philippine Army, local government units, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

The nine former NPA members were formally presented before the municipal TF-ELCAC of Las Navas on July 10 at the municipal hall, where they also...