NO TO NPA. Some 150 former supporters of the New People's Army take their oath of allegiance to the Philippine flag as they renounce their support for the communist rebel movement in Butuan City on July 6, 2019. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion)
A total of 1,304 New People's Army (NPA) regulars and underground supporters in Caraga Region have surrendered as of the second quarter of 2019, the military said.
According to the Army's 402nd Infantry Brigade, the surrenderers consisted of 1,126 Underground Movement (UGMO) members, 23 NPA regulars and 155 Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members.
Based in this city, 402IBde has operational jurisdiction over Surigao del Norte, parts of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and parts of Misamis Oriental.
"These people were deceived and exploited out of the social issues they experienced in their communities," said Col. Maurito Licudine, 402IBde commander, in a statement released to the media Tuesday.
"With the government's efforts to address the issues thru the creation of Regional Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict under the Executive Order 70, people have realized that social issues and problems are best resolved in an environment of peace," Licudine added.
According to Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., 402IBde civil-military operations officer, the latest batch of surrenderers include 62 underground mass supporters who turned themselves in to the Army's 30th Infantry Battalion based in Placer town, Surigao del Norte, on July 8.
The surrenderers, Garello said, exposed the NPA's "scheme" that includes "false promises, agitation, and exploitation."
"Furthermore, they (underground supporters) added that they were utilized by the CNTs as food couriers, messengers, logistics safe keeper and as eyes and ears to monitor the movement of government forces," he added.
On July 6, a group of 150 farmers in this city which identified themselves as members of Unyon ng Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte (UMAN), an NPA-allied organization, also renounced their support for the NPA.
During the Army-led peace consultation dialogue in Barangay Bitan-agan, this city, the group took their pledge of loyalty and allegiance to the government.
Lt. Col. Francisco Molina Jr., 23rd Infantry Battalion commander, said the former members of UMAN were joined by former NPA supporters and residents in renouncing their support for the NPA.
Molina said the dialogue sought to address the issues raised by the residents and the former NPA supporters, such as security of land tenure, livelihood and employment, peace and order, and other concerns.
According to Molina, the rebels exploited UMAN and other similar organizations "to recruit farmers as its source of manpower, finance, and logistics."
Qualified surrenderers will be enrolled in various government programs for rebel returnees to help them reintegrate into the mainstream society.
The NPA, together with the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075236
According to the Army's 402nd Infantry Brigade, the surrenderers consisted of 1,126 Underground Movement (UGMO) members, 23 NPA regulars and 155 Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members.
Based in this city, 402IBde has operational jurisdiction over Surigao del Norte, parts of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and parts of Misamis Oriental.
"These people were deceived and exploited out of the social issues they experienced in their communities," said Col. Maurito Licudine, 402IBde commander, in a statement released to the media Tuesday.
"With the government's efforts to address the issues thru the creation of Regional Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict under the Executive Order 70, people have realized that social issues and problems are best resolved in an environment of peace," Licudine added.
According to Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., 402IBde civil-military operations officer, the latest batch of surrenderers include 62 underground mass supporters who turned themselves in to the Army's 30th Infantry Battalion based in Placer town, Surigao del Norte, on July 8.
The surrenderers, Garello said, exposed the NPA's "scheme" that includes "false promises, agitation, and exploitation."
"Furthermore, they (underground supporters) added that they were utilized by the CNTs as food couriers, messengers, logistics safe keeper and as eyes and ears to monitor the movement of government forces," he added.
On July 6, a group of 150 farmers in this city which identified themselves as members of Unyon ng Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte (UMAN), an NPA-allied organization, also renounced their support for the NPA.
During the Army-led peace consultation dialogue in Barangay Bitan-agan, this city, the group took their pledge of loyalty and allegiance to the government.
Lt. Col. Francisco Molina Jr., 23rd Infantry Battalion commander, said the former members of UMAN were joined by former NPA supporters and residents in renouncing their support for the NPA.
Molina said the dialogue sought to address the issues raised by the residents and the former NPA supporters, such as security of land tenure, livelihood and employment, peace and order, and other concerns.
According to Molina, the rebels exploited UMAN and other similar organizations "to recruit farmers as its source of manpower, finance, and logistics."
Qualified surrenderers will be enrolled in various government programs for rebel returnees to help them reintegrate into the mainstream society.
The NPA, together with the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075236
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