MANILA- Five members of the New People's Army surrendered to the Philippine Army in Midtungok village, Sen. Ninoy Aquino town in Sultan Kudarat Friday.

Those who surrendered were Ome Digan, 48, his children Misuari, 18 and one 16-year-old, and his cousins Adot, 30, and Eson, 25. The military said the child warrior was recruited in 2015.

The rebels turned over 3 firearms including a caliber .30 M1 Garand, a caliber .30 M2 Carbine, and an M79 grenade launcher, said Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commanding officer of the 33rd Infantry Battalion.

The rebels reportedly belonged to Platoon Myphone of Guerilla Front 73 under a certain "Ka Macmac."

"They promised me to retake our ancestral lands from outsiders so I joined to fight for my tribe," said Misuari, who was recruited in Tupi Bato village in 2014.

Eson Digan, a leader of the NPA's communal farm in Sitio Tupi Bato, Midtungok village, meanwhile claimed that Ka Macmac promised to put up a school for his tribe, which did not happen.

"They kept asking for food from us who worked in the farm. We ended up being wanted criminals because of our being NPA members," said Eson, who has a 3-yr old child.

The rebels will be presented to the local government of Sultan Kudarat so they could receive benefits given to former rebels.

The surrender happened as state troops and communist rebels figured in sporadic clashes in various parts of the country amid the suspension of peace negotiations.

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