2 NPA members surrender to gov’t troops in Occidental Mindoro

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 26): 2 NPA members surrender to gov’t troops in Occidental Mindoro

CAMP GEN. MATEO CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal - Two members of the New People's Army (NPA) terrorist group surrendered Sunday to the troops of 76th Infantry (Victrix) Battalion (76IB) at Sitio Ligang, Brgy San Luis, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.

In a report reaching the 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division (2ID) here on Tuesday, Lt. Col. Mario Lito I. Retirva, the acting Commanding Officer of the 76IB, identified the surrenderers as alias July and alias Marian.



Retirva said the two insurgents were members of the Mangyan tribe in Mindoro and belonged to the Platoon Falcon, Sub-Regional Military Area (SRMA) 4D, Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC).

In an interview upon his surrender , July said that he decided to lie low because he is tired of fighting the government forces.

He also said he has experienced starvation due to the dwindling support from the masses.

The other rebel surrenderer, Marian, said she broke away from the terrorist group because the NPA cannot fulfill its promises.

“Pinangakuan nila ako na gaganda daw ang aking buhay, makakapag-aral daw ako sa bundok, mabibigyan ng lupa at masusupurtahan ko ang aking pamilya kapag sumali ako sa NPA. Pero lahat pala yun ay panlilinlang (They promised a good life for me, I could study while in the mountain, would be awarded land and have support for my family if I were to join the NPA. But, all these were deceit),” Marian recounted in her Mangyan dialect.

The military report also said the two former NPA members revealed how they have gone through hardships as they were always on the run, moving from place to place to evade government troops.

The former rebels admitted they were convinced to surrender because they saw their former comrades now living a peaceful life after surrendering to the government.

Meanwhile, Major General Rhoderick M. Parayno, the 2ID Commander, lauded the efforts of the 76IB against the NPA terrorists in the area.

Parayno reiterated his call to the NPAs, who were misled into the violent path, to surrender and totally abandon the armed struggle.

“Rest assured that the 2ID troopers will assist all NPA rebels who will decide to surrender and go back to the mainstream of society. We will facilitate and link them to the concerned government agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs) for them to receive the necessary benefits and assistance,” he assured.

Rebels who will surrender are currently under the auspices of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, or E-CLIP, the latest program of the government that provides shelter, employment, and livelihood - complemented by an effective monitoring and evaluation system for rebel surrenders.
 
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1039543