Army pushes community support program in NPA strongholds

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 18): Army pushes community support program in NPA strongholds

The Philippine Army is strengthening its Community Support Program (CSP) especially in known New People’s Army (NPA) strongholds after the surrender of NPA members this year.

Some 2,000 members of the NPA and the Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) surrendered to the different line battalions of the 701st Infantry Brigade.The three battalions under 701st IB are the 66th Infantry Battalion based in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, 67th Infantry battalion in Baganga, Davao oriental and 28th Infantry battalion.

Brig. Gen. Reuben Basiao, commander of 701st Infantry Brigade based at Sitio Magay, Barangay Don Marundan in Mati City, Davao Oriental said 2,000 UGMO members and 116 members of the NPA guerilla fronts 27, 20, 25, 15, Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 8, PBC 6 and Section Committee 18 surrendered this year.

"Even before the mass surrender of Barangay Araibo we have many cases of mass surrender of the NPA members and UGMO in other barangays in the municipality of Lingig, Cateel, Boston and Mati city," Basiao said.

The latest surrender was last December 15 in Barangay Araibo, Pantukan where the 701st IB received 290 members of UGMO from Pantukan. The surrender was a result of the 3-day conduct of the CSP in the area.

"We have been starting in Maragusan and Pantukan actually this is the third cycle. We have just highlighted this because the whole barangay has been organized by the NPA under its shadow government," he added.

Basiao said that since the first quarter of 2017 many barangays returned under the government’s authority.

"For the first two quarters also we have zero atrocities due to the mass surrender of the barangays," Basiao said.

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, chief of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), said the mass surrender was a good development as a manifestation that the communities recognize the effort of the national and local government and other agencies together with the AFP and PNP which have been working to draw NPA members and their “masa” to embrace peace to get back on their lives.

For now, Madrigal vowed to end the extortion activities of the NPA especially now that martial is extended in Mindanao. He also vowed to secure the areas of Eastmincom.

"Rest assured that we will intensify on our security measures. We embrace on development and will do things you need from us especially if you need assistance through our peace and development activities," Madrigal said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1019187