120 NPA rebels return to the side of the law

From the Manila Bulletin (Dec 27): 120 NPA rebels return to the side of the law

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur — One-hundred twenty members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the authorities in the Caraga region from January to Dec. 15, 2016, field unit Army commanders disclosed yesterday.

In a statement, Col. Cristobal N. Zaragoza, commanding officer of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade and Lt. Col. Rommel Pagayon, commanding officer of the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion (26th IB) underscored that the rebel returnees used to live in fear while they were far away from their families.

Their lives were burdened by the hardships of evading the law and fighting against the government, he said.

“But things have changed when they laid down their arms and were welcomed back to the folds of the government,” Col. Pagayon said.

The 26th IB commander emphasized that with the efforts of the Philippine Army to neutralize the left-leaning groups, several NPA rebels already surrendered and returned to the mainstream society.

On July 31, Yoyoy Bat-aw and Rey Pasado Carlos alias “Rex,” both regular fighters from Guerrilla Front Committee 34 of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NMRC), came down from the mountains of Loreto, Agusan del Sur and surrendered with their M1 Garand rifle and KG9, Col. Pagayon said.

On Nov. 10, Wengweng Gumansel of Guerrilla Front Committee 89 and Erwin Mansumangkay alias “RR” of Guerilla Front Committee 88 of NMRC also gave up their arms and hoped to live a better and safer life. They brought along with them three high-powered firearms (1 AR18 rifle, 1 carbine and 1 Garand rifle) to attest their sincerity in surrendering to the government that they once challenged, he said.

“We used to run for our lives where we were told of the presence of the army in our community for we were afraid to die. We walked the mountain trails even at the middle of the night or under the intense heat of the day with little food just to evade them,” Col. Pagayon quoted Gumansel as telling him when the rebel returnee tearfully recalled his past experiences in the revolutionary movement.

In August 2016, Jason Istar Behing, 28, and Jeffry Azarcon Maca, 28, both members of SPP21C, Guerilla Front Committee 21 (GFC21), NEMRC, voluntarily surrendered with two M16 rifle with bandolier and three magazines to 29th IB in Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Col. Zaragoza also said.

In Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, another regular fighter of the NPA who surrendered to the 3rd Special Forces Battalion was presented to Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward G. Plaza on Nov. 9. The rebel returnee also surrendered his M16 rifle to the government.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/12/27/120-npa-rebels-return-to-the-side-of-the-law/