115 former rebels pledge support for government

From the Visayan Daily Star (Feb 25, 2019): 115 former rebels pledge support for government

More supporters and former members of the New People’s Army in the hinterlands of northern Negros returned to the folds of the law and pledged to support the government, Lt. Col. Emelito Thaddeus Logan, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, said yesterday.

Of the 115 former rebels and their supporters, 35 are residents of hinterland barangays of Escalante City, while 80 others came from Victorias City, Cadiz City, EB Magalona and Manapla.

Logan said that about 80 former CPP-NPA supporters and members of its Yunit Militia reached out to government troops and signified their intention to support the government, as a result of their immersion programs in the hinterland communities in Brgys. Estado and Gawahon in Victorias City, Brgy. Canlusong in EB Magalona, Brgy.Caduha-an in Cadiz City, and Brgy.San Pablo in Manapla.

Meanwhile, 35 other former NPA supporters in the hinterland barangays of Binagyuhan, Pinapugasan, Paitan and Dian-ay in Escalante City, took their oath to support the government in a ceremony held Saturday in Brgy. Bato, Sagay City.

Logan said the oath was recited in front of Pastor Morito Panadero, who represented Escalante City Mayor Eddie Montero.

The 79th Infantry Battalion deployed Community Support Program Teams in far-flung areas of northern Negros that aims to engage partner stakeholders to support current thrusts of the government, in line with the AFP’s Development Support and Security Plan (DSSP) dubbed as “Kapayapaan”.

Logan said that the series of insurgency awareness sessions conducted by the CSP Teams of 79IB made the former NPA members and supporters realize the lies and deceptions of the local communist terrorist group.

He added that they admitted providing material, financial, and moral support to the CPP-NPA, with some of them even became red fighters.

The 80 former NPA members and supporters pledged to support the government in a ceremony held Friday at Brgy. 5 in Victorias City.

Logan thanked the Victorias City government for its support in helping them address issues and concerns raised by former rebels to achieve lasting peace and development.

He also noted an increase in turn-outs of Negrenses now renouncing their support to the CPP-NPA.

Last week, the Department of Interior and Local Government gave P231,000 in financial support to 11 former rebels, who surrendered last year to the 62nd Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/February/25/topstory8.htm