LOCAL SUPPORT. Mayor Jane Plaza (left, holding a microphone) of Carmen, Surigao del Sur, assures the former communist rebels of the local government unit's support during a ceremony marking their return to the folds of the law on Sunday (July 14). (Contributed Photo)
TAGO, Surigao del Sur--Twenty New People's Army (NPA) combatants and support staff have surrendered in the town of Carmen over the weekend, the military said.
The surrenderers were eight NPA regular members, a courier, two organizers, a medic, a collector, and seven "contact members", said 1Lt. Jonald Romorosa, the civil-military operations officer of the Army's 36th Infantry Battalion.
Romorosa said the surrenderers took their pledge of allegiance before Mayor Jane Plaza in Barangay Hinapuyan, Carmen on Sunday.
Plaza assured the NPA members and supporters, who are all residents of Carmen town, of the local government unit's assistance as they reintegrate into the mainstream society.
"The pledge of allegiance manifests the peace-loving Carmenanon’s withdrawal of support and rejection of the NPA terrorists from the communities," the mayor said.
Romorosa quoted one of the former NPA regulars as saying that they have been deceived in joining the communist rebel movement.
"We were made to believe that supporting the terrorist NPA will improve our lives. Instead, they used us as accessories to their futile armed struggle," the former rebel was quoted as saying.
Lt. Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, 36IB commander, said the growing number of NPA surrenderers "and shift of support of the masses to the government is a manifestation that the government is sincere in its effort to protect the people".
"We urge remaining CNT members to finally lay down their arms and live peaceful and normal lives together with their loved ones," Trinidad said.
Meanwhile, Dir. Adshary Banto of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-Caraga) said the former rebels and NPA supporters will be given skills training opportunities so they would be able to improve their lives.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075274
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