NPA rebel surrenders due to lack of food

From the Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (May 26): NPA rebel surrenders due to lack of food

HUNGER and lack of communication with his family prompted a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) to lay down his arms and yield to the government on Saturday.

Major Leo Bongosia, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) based at Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City, said Celestino Cadavido Jr., 20, single, a resident of Rosario, Agusan del Sur, has given himself up to the government due to grave reasons.

“Mi-ambak siya (Cadavido) for reasons of lack of food and lack of communication with his family. He was even deprived of cash...and was tired of running away from authorities,” Bongosia said.

Bongosia said some rebels have sensed “impossible leadership” of the communist group and have “sensed na nag-binotbot ug nag-binakak sa ila ang kalihukan (they sensed they were being deceived and lied to by the movement).”

Bongosia even said no military officers or other groups encouraged Cadavido to yield but it was his own decision.

“No one incited him to surrender. But his decision to end his misery prompted him to lay down his arms and struggle. In short, mi-ambak sa iyang kaugalingong kabubuot-on (He left the movement at his own will),” he added.

30 rebel returnees

Bongosia said the number of NPA members who yielded has reached 30 for 2013 alone. Cadavido is the 30th NPA rebel to lay down his arms.

“Government initiatives are on process. They opted to live with their families than live a life that is on the run,” he said when asked on what help the government can offer to former rebels.

The 4ID belied claims of the NPA that there are 27 soldiers killed from May 3 to 11 in separate clashes in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.

As of April 26, the army tallied eight high-powered and eight low-powered firearms recovered from 26 government-initiated encounters.

In two separate encounters in Surigao del Norte and Bukidnon, two government forces died, four NPA rebels were killed, and four former rebels in Agusan del Sur surrendered with firearms.

Together with the firearms recovered are ammunitions such as 825 rounds for M16; 670 rounds for M14; 1,531 rounds for AK47; 90 rounds for Carbine; 15 rounds for Cal. 45, and 10 hand grenades, Bongosia said.

But since January this year, Bongosia added, the 4ID listed 20 high-powered firearms and 22 low-powered-firearms recovered, 11 NPA rebels killed, and 29 insurgents have surrendered.

He said the armed forces owed this success to the soldiers of 4ID and the relentless combat operations in maintaining peace and security in the region especially in the recently concluded May elections.

With “Oplan Bayanihan” (the counterinsurgency program of President Benigno Aquino III), the 4ID has its door opened for those who want to surrender their arms, leave the struggle, and live peacefully with their families and friends without fear and intimidation, Bongosia added.

The 4ID, he said, vows to maintain its security operations for the rest of the election period until June 13.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/05/26/npa-rebel-surrenders-due-lack-food-284333