BUTUAN CITY, May 3 -- The Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur has demanded justice for the killings perpetrated by the communist New People's Army (NPA) following the surrender of a rebel leader accused of masterminding the deaths of several Manobo tribesmen.

"We are happy that Joel Maca has decided to abandon the communist movement after years of disturbing and sowing fear among our communities," IPMR Datu Rico Maca said in a phone interview Friday.

Joel Maca, the NPA's former deputy secretary of Guerrilla Front 30 under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, surrendered on April 26.

The two are distant relatives and belong to the Manobo tribe.

Joel and his wife, along with four ot...