Rebels surrender in Mindanao

DAVAO, Philippines, June 19 (UPI) -- Thirty-one former members of the Philippine rebel group New Peoples Army have surrendered their weapons and are being integrated back into society.

The former rebels exchanged 47 firearms for market prices to the Philippines armed forces on the easternmost island of Mindanao.

Retired Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process, offered those who surrendered immediate cash assistance along with other integration initiatives to process the individuals back into society, the Philippine government reported.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at the ceremony Wednesday to congratulate officials from the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao for their rebel reintegration efforts.

While some critics say the conflict with the New Peoples Army has not ended, the surrender of such a large group of former rebels, some of whom have been fighting as long as 15 years, is an encouraging sign of progress toward peace.