Seven members of a New People’s Army (NPA) unit operating in
the hinterlands of South Cotabato province
have surrendered to government troops following a series of negotiations.
Lt. Col. Ronald Jess Alcudia, commander of the Army’s 27th
Infantry Battalion (IB), said Wednesday the rebels yielded to their peace and
development teams during their immersions last week in various upland villages
in T’boli and Lake
Sebu
He said four of the returnees, whose identities were
withheld for security reasons, were residents of T’boli while the three others
were from Lake Sebu
“This is an indication that the socio-economic situation in
these areas have been improving and these rebels themselves were convinced that
it’s time to lay down their firearms,” he said in a radio interview.
Alcudia said the surrender of the seven rebels also showed
that the national governments services and programs already reached the
remotest areas and local residents are well informed about them.
He credited the accomplishment to the continuing efforts of
their peace and development to bring the government closer to the people
through the provision of various basic services.
The 27th IB intensified late last year its peace and
development activities in various remote communities in the municipalities of Lake Sebu
The teams specifically launched service missions and
community information campaigns in collaboration with the local government
units (LGUs).
Alcudia said the rebels have been reportedly luring tribal
residents to join their ranks by promising them regular salaries and other
monetary benefits.
He said several former NPA recruits who surrendered last
year confirmed that rebel leaders had promised monetary benefits that never
materialized.
“These returnees were victims of that scheme. They are not
hard core communists. They’re just people who have needs and were eventually
duped,” he said.
Meantime, the Army official said they are working for the
inclusion of the seven returnees into the Comprehensive Local Integration
Program (CLIP).
CLIP, which is formerly known as the Social Integration
Program (SIP), is being implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser
on Peace Process in coordination with the LGUs.
The program reintegrates former rebels into the social
mainstream and uplifts their socio-economic conditions to enable them to become
active partners in the local development.
“We’re also coordinating with concerned LGUs for the
provision of initial livelihood assistance to these returnees,” he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=725049
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