Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) director, on Monday said the surrender of 70 communist rebels and 200 members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) was one of their major accomplishments under the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Luzon. In a news briefing held at Camp Olivas in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga, Sermonia noted that the surr ender was proof of an effective dialogue with the leftists by the p olice particularly in Region 3. “Once again, we are showcasing another accomplishment of our RTF-ELCAC that is the result of the concerted efforts of all the member agencies and wherein the PRO-3 devised the program in time for this New Year, ‘Bagong Taon, Bagong Pag-asa, Bagong Buhay Tungo sa Pagkakaisa,’” he said. Of the 70 rebel returnees, 33 surrendered last month, followed by one active New Peoples Army (NPA) member, one member of Anakbayan, one member of Marxist Leninist Party of the Philippines-Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan and 20 regular members of the NPA-White Area Committee. Sermonia said the RTF-ELCAC program was aimed at encouraging members and leaders of leftist groups to turn to the government for a new life. The 200 Kadamay members who surrendered can now avail of the PNP’s livelihood program under its Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.