Two
more New People's Army (NPA) fighters have voluntarily surrendered to the 58th
Infantry Battalion in Barangay Minalwang, Claveria town, Misamis Oriental
Thursday.
In
a statement Friday, 58th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Jose Eriel M.
Niembra identified the surrenderees as Reyram Mansangcagan and Ariel Lindaan,
members of the NPA's Guerilla Front 4B, Northern Central Mindanao Regional
Committee.
They
surrendered with them one .303 Springfield rifle and an M-16 automatic rifle.
Niembra
said that the two rebels decided to give up after realizing the futility of
armed struggle and desire to be with their families.
He
added that the duo were even surprised at the respect and consideration shown
to them by 58th Infantry Battalion troopers when they surrendered.
Questioning
revealed that the two became full-time NPA fighters in 2013.
Upon
joining, NPA leaders promised them monthly allowances and large tracts of land
should the movement succeed.
However,
nothing came out of these promises and incessant hardship in the mountains and
causeless fighting coupled with the banditry works forced upon them by their
leaders, prompted them to surrender.
“The
people in the countryside are all tired of the atrocities and extortion of the
New People’s Army. The populace and barangay officials are fully cooperating
with the military, they are not only giving exact information on the presence
of NPA bandits but convincing them as well to lay down their arms and return to
mainstream society, thus, the surrender of the two former NPA members,"
Niembra stressed.
“Military
operation against NPA bandits will push through with enthusiasm and dedication
for the welfare of the people in Gingoog City specifically the province of
Misamis Oriental, those who opt to lay down their arms and rejoin mainstream
society are all welcome anytime this will be compensated with the local
government programs and the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Guns for Peace
program,” he concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=646374
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