“The government is actually giving the members of the NPA a
chance to return to their families and live normal lives in their
community."
This was the central message of Major General Rafael
Valencia, commander of 10th Infantry (Agila) Division to the media here
Thursday afternoon in the midst of the increasing numbers of New People’s Army
(NPA) rebels who recently decided to return to their homes and communities and
start to live peacefully.
He further urged the remaining NPA rebels to “emulate what
their former companions did," as it is high time that “soldiers, rebels
and ordinary citizens alike should all work towards peace and development
without violence and armed struggle."
The series of surrenders came in the midst of the massive
military offensives that the 10th ID has launched since January and the number
of armed confrontations that took place between government forces and said LAGs
for the period.
In the same statement to the media on Thursday, 10th ID
chief information officer Captain Rhyan Batchar said three NPA members yielded
to various line units of the command in two different occasions last April 24
and 28.
They brought with them during their surrender a Garand rifle
and two M-16 Armalite rifles, Batchar added.
On Thursday alias Jef and alias Noel, both members of
guerrilla front 53, of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) of the
NPA operating in the province
of North Cotabato
The other NPA rebel who surrendered last April 24 was Alias
Roy, 38 years of age and a member of guerrilla front 27 also of SMRC of the NPA
operating in the province of Compostela Valley province.
Alias Roy submitted himself
to the elements of 71st Infantry Battalion in Barangay New Visayas, Mawab, Compostela Valley
Batchar said the real names of the former rebels are being
withheld for their personal security while they are still being interviewed by
their custodial units.
Last Tuesday, April 26, a member of the special operations
unit of guerrilla front 53 of the NPA-SMRC operating in Davao del Norte
province also surrendered to the troopers of 68th Infantry Battalion.
Alias Kid, 34 years old, also surrendered a .45 caliber
pistol when he presented himself to authorities in Sitio Milyong, Barangay Sto.
Niño, Talaingod town.
During interview, Alias Kid told the army that he was only
17 years old when he was recruited to join the NPA on May 1999 in Talaingod,
Davao del Norte. He is currently undergoing interview and processing at the
headquarters of 68IB.
But the biggest number of surrenders came in two separate
occasions last March 23 and April 14, Captain Batchar pointed out to reporters
when a total of six NPAs, two of them were minors, turned themselves in to the
elements of 73rd Infantry Battalion and Task Force Gensan of the 1002nd Brigade
in General Santos City.
The six were all members of guerrilla front 71 of the Far
South Mindanao Regional Committee (FSMRC) operating in the areas of Sarangani
province, General Santos City
and parts of South Cotabato .
Batchar identified the former rebels through their aliases
as Jomar, Rex, Anghel, Dondon and Daniel. Both Dondon and Daniel are 17 years
of age.
They also presented to authorities upon their surrender a
remote controlled landmine which they claimed the NPA rebels use during
ambuscades that had damaged the lives and properties of soldiers and civilians
in the area.
They also told authorities during their interview that
hardships and trauma, especially to the minor members forced them to abandon
the NPA movement.
They added that they were deceived by the rebels when they
were recruited to join the armed movement by promising them to receive Php
2,000 monthly salary, which they said did not materialize.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=881029
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