Ranking NPA leader in South Quezon surrenders to Solcom troops

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 19): Ranking NPA leader in South Quezon surrenders to Solcom troops

A ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in South Quezon surrendered to soldiers of the 74th Infantry Battalion under the command of 201st Infantry Brigade chief Brig. General Alex Capiña at its headquarters on Wednesday afternoon.

Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) Commander Lt. Gen. Caesar Ronnie F. Ordoyo identified the rebel returnee as Arjie Bulalaque alias “Jared” who was former finance officer of the Berto Platoon of the NPA’s guerilla unit and staff member of Anak-Pawis since 2010.

Bulalaque, in an interview, admitted he voluntarily surrendered to government troops and abandoned the CPP-NPA movement after learning most of his comrades including his brother Arnel yielded to government authorities.

Speaking in Filipino during the custodial debriefing, Bulalaque divulged “many of my comrades including my brother and kin have surrendered. So, I have to give up also since the NPA failed its promise to give me land for free.”

The top NPA leader also revealed he belongs to a revolutionary family in Quezon with his father known as “Ka Black”, a hardcore rebel who later died due to illness.

Bulalaque recalled how his father never received any medication and support from the NPA organization while he was active.

Also, his brother Arnel was recruited by the NPA at an early age but he had abandoned the rebel movement in November last year.

Arnel is now qualified as a recipient of the livelihood incentives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) under its Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

OPAPP’s CLIP provides interventions to address the physical, psychological, intellectual, social and economic development needs of former rebels.

Lt. Gen. Ordoyo said Bulalaque will receive P50,000 as livelihood cash assistance from OPPAP and monetary incentives in exchange for his guns under the “Gun for Peace Program” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Ordoyo remarked that “the increasing number of NPA leaders’ surrender to the government only manifests their continuing quest to lead normal lives in a safe and peaceful community.”

The Solcom chief added that rebels returning to the fold of law can now pursue livelihood and become productive members of the society and partners for economic development under the social integration program.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=627112