NPA rebel barges into Army camp to surrender, is nearly gunned down

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 28): NPA rebel barges into Army camp to surrender, is nearly gunned down

Butuan City -- Driven to a life of desperation in the hinterlands of Surigao del Sur, a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel decided last Nov. 15 to surrender to authorities by barging into an Army camp in Barangay Maharlika in this city.

And he nearly got killed for it.

Ka Jonaide, who is also known as Efren, ran into the 75th Infantry “Marauder” Battalion’s headquarters at around 7 a.m. in full battle gear, taking aback sentries on-duty who nearly gunned down the hapless rebel.

“Suko na ako, di na nako kaya ang kalisod, tabangi ko ninyo sir.” (I surrender, I can no longer bear the hardship, help me sir),” declared Jonaide after he laid down his AK-47 rifle and seven magazines on the table of the duty-officer.

Jonaire is reportedly a regular Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA member and team leader of Squad 1, Platoon 1 of the guerrilla Front Committee 14 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) of the CPP-NPA.

According to acting regional Army spokesman of the 4th Infantry (Diamond Division)Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, “Jonaide”, whose real name is still being withheld for security reasons, was chased by the sentries and was nearly shot by the headquarters’ marshals.

Martinez said Jonaide recounted that he joined the armed movement of the NPA because he was promised a better future.

But, as it turned out, they were all lies.

“He suffered hunger, he felt tired with continuous movement, no permanent shelter and the worst was the feeling of fear that one of these days, they will be trapped by the military due to the NPA’s continuous illegal activities,” Martinez said.

The former rebel is still undergoing debriefing while awaiting financial and livelihood assistance from the government for surrendering insurgents.

“This is a manifestation that the NPAs in my area are experiencing both social and combat pressure. We will continue our efforts and we will help in economic stability in the area and developments set-in in our communities,” said Lt. Col. Norman L. Alcovindas, commanding officer of the 75th IB.

In a background investigation, Alcovindas said Jonaide decided to leave the underground movement because of the hardships that they have been enduring in the mountains.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, commanding general of the 4th ID in northeastern and Northern Mindanao lauded Jonaire for returning to the fold of the law.

“We are very thankful for the decision of our brother to finally abandon the armed struggle and join the mainstream of our society,” he said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/npa-rebel-barges-into-army-camp-to-surrender-is-nearly-gunned-down/