2 NPA terrorists surrender in AgSur

From the Philippine Intelligence Agency (Nov 16): 2 NPA terrorists surrender in AgSur

Two regular members of the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) voluntarily surrendered to the elements of Charlie Company, 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion based in Loreto, Agusan del Sur on November 13, 2018.

The two were identified as alias ‘Jonel’, 33-years old and alias ‘Rustom’, 16-years old, both elements of Abe Team, Segunda Squad, Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 4, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) operating in the boundaries of Loreto, ADS and Laak, Comval Province. Jonel surrendered his AK 47 rifle with one magazine and 40 live ammunitions while Rustom yielded one sub-machine gun with one magazine and seven live ammunition and cal.38 revolver.

“We condemn the series of violations being committed by the Communists-NPA-Terrorists (CNTs) on the provisions of Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) against the civilians and IP members here in our AOR. Rustom, who is a minor and a member of the Manobo Tribe in Loreto, should be in school and learning, and should never be recruited and forcibly used as their combatant,” said Lt. Col. Romeo Jimenea, Battalion Commander of 26IB.

It can be recalled that an elf truck used to deliver lemons was torched down by the CNTs belonging to Guerilla Front 8 in Brgy. Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur, after the owner refused to give in to their extortion demands.

In his statement during the debriefing, Rustom narrated that he was kidnapped by the CNTs after he was seen in the forest, where he was forcibly brought to their hideout somewhere in the forested part of San Mariano, Loreto. He repeatedly asked for permission to go home but he was denied by alias Tula and alias Jordan, ordering him to stay without any valid reasons. Eventually, he was with the platoon operating back and forth in the provincial boundary for three months. An M16 rifle was issued to him after a month and half, when an encounter between the 26IB troops and his group occurred, resulting to the recovery of one AK 47 by the government troops. After that, he planned to escape and decided to surrender.

Rustom is currently under the custody of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) for case management and necessary intervention, while Jonel is undergoing custodial debriefing in connection with their Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) Enrollment, in which they will be receiving psychosocial interventions, financial and livelihood assistance and firearms remunerations for their surrendered firearms.

According to them, lack of sleep, food and hardship were the main reasons why they decided to surrender, following the encounter against the 26IB troops happened in Brgy. Kauswagan, Loreto last month, October 2, 2018.

“We will continue our efforts to conduct security operations in our unit’s area to engage the remaining NPAs decisively, to give them only two options, to surrender and live peacefully with their families, or to be neutralized and face their death," said Lt. Col. Jimenea.

"We strongly urge those rebels who still blinded by the communists’ deception to open your eyes and grab the opportunity to surrender while you are still alive. Christmas Season is fast approaching, and there’s no greater gift than to be with your own family this season. Give peace a chance,” he added. (26IB, PA/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1015125