BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 11 (PIA) -- Armed men led by Jasmen Acevedo alias "Datu Jasmen" have voluntarily surrendered to the authorities.

This was after the conduct of a series of dialogue thru peaceful negotiation with concerned government agencies.

Datu Jasmen's group is composed of lumad residents from Barangay Umalag, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

According to the Philippine Army, the surrenderees are former members of the New People's Army (NPA) who now want to live peacefully in mainstream society.

The group also surrendered with them one M16 rifle, one carbine rifle, three homemade shotguns, and two caliber .45.

Datu Jasmen said, they were forced to use firearms and other weapons as they want to protect their ancestors' lands from the abusive NPAs who showed interest to claim and use it.

To ensure the safety and security of the surenderees, they were brought to the headquarters of the 36th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Dayoan, Tago, Surigao del Sur from the municipality of San Miguel, accompanied by the local officials, policemen, army, and IP leaders who helped in the negotiation.

The warrant of arrest was also formally served to the group, read and explained to them by Police Lieutenant Colonel Allan Macapagal, the deputy provincial director for operation of Police Provincial Office in Surigao del Sur.

The surrenderees were charged for three counts of robbery with homicide based on the warrant of arrest released on December 5, 2012 by presiding Judge Rufo Naragas. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)