28 Rebels’ Underground Informants Surrender

From the Negros Daily Bulletin (Jul 12): 28 Rebels’ Underground Informants Surrender

The army has successfully dismantled the rebel mass structure in Negros Oriental as 28 residents who serve as underground informants of the New People’s Army (NPA) have given up on Friday to the troops of Bayanihan Team under 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion, led by its commander LtC Marion Sison.

After realizing the futility of supporting the armed struggle and the hostility of keeping the NPAs to their shelter, 28 Party Branch Members and Peoples Militia were awakened from the deceptive insinuations on opinionated issues that brought the Solid Mass Organization or MASSO in Brgy Mantiquil Siaton, Negros Oriental.

Nine (9) members of Sangay sa Partido sa Localidad (SPL) led by Rosalie Nama alias POPS and nineteen (19) members of Yunit Militia (YM) of Lubos na Asosasyong Masa (LAM)/Solid Mass Association under Diosdado Nama alias DONDI returned to the folds of the law by turning themselves in to the troops of 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion, of the 302nd Brigade led by Brig Ge. Francisco Patrimonio.

"The surrender of 28 personalities who were utilized for chores from being underground informants to sometimes, instant and untrained fill up fighters for the NPAs was brought about by the proper information delivered by the Bayanihan Troops from issues previously exploited by the terror groups.

They admittedly decided to turn their backs after realizing they have been fed with lies by the NPA Leadership," according to Ltc Sison. We treated them as victims. Indeed these mass surrender of the entire community previously apsulated by the broken Communist ideologies is a gateway to a wider opportunity for its constituents, especially the youth," Sison added.

Anent this, Brig. Gen. Jonas Sumagaysay, Acting 3ID Commander said, "The people of Negros are happy to welcome their long lost brothers and sisters who have returned to the mocratic fold. This is a welcome development in the province of Negros Oriental where people have longed for a lasting peace. Let us help each other in the spirit of Bayanihan to end the menace of insurgency and move forward towards development in the countryside."

Sumagaysay also said, the snowball of surrenders can be also attributed to social pressure generated by the civil society organizations, the local officials and other stakeholders who have been persistent in calling for peace coupled with sustained combat operations in the region.

Meanwhile, for the first semester, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reports, a total of 62 regular members of the NPA have already surrendered and live normally in the mainstream society. This number includes 26 rebels who are members of Komiteng Rehiyonal-Panay (KR-P), 33 from Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros (KR-N) and 3 from Komiteng Rehiyonal Sentral-Bisayas (KR-SB). The numbers does not count NPA members who have been monitored to have left the movement for the period.

This year’s 1st semester surrenderee is up by 18 or 40% compared to 1st semester last year where 44 NPA rebels have laid down their arms and returned to mainstream society and chose to live peacefully.

"We expect more rebels to surrender in the coming days because we know that they are already tired of the futile armed struggle and wanted to go down and abandon the armed violence," according to Sumagaysay.

"The CPP-NPA is losing the support of the populace while their ranks continue to go back to the democratic folds and start a lawful and peaceful life.

The continued Bayanihan in Western Visayas is a successful effort of the people who longed for lasting peace in this part of the country. Your Army in Western Visayas remains committed in performing its mandated task of protecting the people.

Together with other government security forces, "we will intensify our combat operations in the region. We will likewise continue our efforts working hand in hand with the local government units, the local government agencies, the civil society organizations and the local populace to end the threats of violence of insurgency and bring peace, stability and development in this part of the country," Sumagaysay disclosed.

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