‘Rebel’ surrenders

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 2): ‘Rebel’ surrenders

A self-confessed member of the New People’s Army operating in southern Negros Oriental surrendered to the Philippine Army joining his brothers and a nephew, who had preceded him recently.

Junie Boy Dacaldacal, of legal age, married, and a resident of Sitio Calangagay, Barangay Nagbalaye in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, said he surrendered to the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Army Monday morning after months of lying low from the underground movement.

He was presented to ranking Army and Philippine National Police officials from the Visayas and Region 7 during the Regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center conference at Camp Fernandez, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, yesterday.

Present at the RJPSCC conference were PNP Region 7 director, Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas, Brig. Gen. Romeo Labador, deputy chief of the Central Command in the Visayas, Negros Oriental OIC provincial police director, Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel Jr., and Col. Allan Martin, 302nd Brigade commander.

Lt. Col. Harold Pascua, 79th IB commanding officer, told members of the RJPSCC, that the latest surrender, from the Dacaldacal family ends the family’s active participation in the NPA.

He said the five Dacaldacal brothers and a nephew were popular among the “rebels” and well known to resident in Nagbinlod, Nagbalaye, Talalak and Milagrosa residents.

Those who had surrendered earlier were Jessie, alias Dukol, who, Pascua said was the alleged second in command of the NPA South East Front and who would have been the commanding officer of its Sentro de Gravidad Patrol; Jessie’s son, Romnick, an assistant squad leader; and Junie, who was physically challenged but was nevertheless active in the rebel movement.

Another brother, Diosdado Dacaldacal, alias Aming, and his wife, Jocelyn, were killed in an encounter between rebels and government troops late last month in Tanjay City.

All the Dacaldacal family members who are reportedly involved in the insurgency are all accounted for, and are now on our side, Pascua said.

Junie said that after he had asked permission from the NPA to integrate with his family, he left for Manila to seek employment there. He returned recently after learning that his siblings had already surrendered and were being taken care of by the Army and provided livelihood assistance.

While with the NPA, he said he carried an M-16 armalite rifle nut had left it with his peers.

The Army is processing his papers to qualify him for financial and other livelihood assistance from the provincial and national governments.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/July/02/negor3.htm