Manila, Feb. 17 -- At least nine members of the New People's Army (NPA) surrendered in Northern Samar and turned over six firearms, the Philippine Army reported Monday.

The rebels belonging to the NPA's sub-regional guerrilla unit surrendered to the Philippine Army's 19th Infantry Battalion on Feb. 15.

The group handed over one R4 rifle, two M16 rifles, two improvised M14 rifles, one carbine rifle, anti-personnel mine, and two bandoliers.

The surrenderers, identified as aliases Amboy, Jhonry, Lenlen, Adi, Bobby, Ostoy, Boy, Nap, and Yutot, personally appeared at the army headquarters in Opong village in Catubig, Northern Samar.

Citing accounts from surrendered rebels, the military said, they decided to abandon the armed struggle due t...