News Update 5 rebels surrender to military in southern Philippines

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - At least five leftist rebels surrendered to government security forces on Thursday in the restive southern Philippines, the military said. The rebels under New People Army's Front 71 and 72 led by Commander Connie Mapuno, yielded in the city of Kidapawan to Emmylou Talinio Mendoza, the governor of North Cotabato province, regional police spokesman Chief Inspector Alexis Yap said. Yap said the returnees also surrendered their weapons that include a Springfield sniper rifle, two M1 carbine rifles, one M1 Garand rifle, one M16 Armalite rifle and assorted ammunition. "They wanted to live a normal life and spend the holidays with their loveones," Yap said. The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates placed the NPA strength at more than 5,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.