MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, July 15 2019 – Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade (403Bde) recorded a total of 90 regular members of New People’s Army (NPA) armed terrorists, 146 Milisyang Bayan (also known MB as local NPA unit in villages), 33 members of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) party branch or Sanga sa Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL), and 376 members of “hingpit na organisadong masa” (HOM), the underground organization of the NDF.
These were the results of the collective efforts of the five army battalions under 403Bde that are doing community service in 58 barangays in the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, as well as the hinterlands of Cagayan de Oro City.
Reasons ranging from failed promises, internal corruption, sexual opportunism, deception and lies, isolation and loneliness, hunger, fatigue, and anxiety brought these regular NPA fighters into surrender.
One NPA political cadre revealed that family dynasty proliferate in the NPA unit. “Halos tanang yunit sa hukbo, mag-asawa ang nagdumala. Ang bayi ang kalihim, ang laki ang CO ug puli kalihim. Kontrolado nila ang pondo ug supply. Ang gisaad sa amo mao ang supamil (suporta sa pamilya) nga wala mi kabalo asa gakaadto. Pero ang anak sa mga magasawang lider, hayahay ug kinabuhi. Si Ka Miray dunay negosyo nga tamnanan sa kape. Apan kami gantos sa labnaw nga kape. Ang tinapa, 6-in-1. Unom ka tawo magtunga sa usa ka lata” revealed by one of the surrenderor.
Among the latest surrenders is a young NPA couple. “15 pako pagrecruit sa akoa nga musampa sa NPA (I was 15 when I was recruited to join NPA)” said Kenny (not her real name). Her partner Koko was also 17 when recruited almost five years ago.
The brgy immersion of army’s community support teams (CST) under 403Bde enlightened the local residents who were radicalized and lured into into supporting the terrorist organization by CPP-NPA political cadres, said Cpt Ryan Layug, 403Bde CSP Officer. “Our soldiers penetrate remote areas and stay in geographically-isolated communities to bring good news, help LGUs deliver services, and initiate dialogue to hear their reasons for supporting and joining the CPP-NDF-NPA. Common responses we got was that they were agitated by twisted stories against the government that were told by NPA propagandists and ‘organisador’. During community dialogues, LGU and national agency representatives clarify issues with the communities and they realize all the fake news from NPA propagandists”, Layug added.
403Bde Commander BGen Edgardo De Leon said that the the AFP has long been embarked in pursuing a community-oriented efforts to address the communist insurgency. “We have long proven this approach to be effective, but we need the involvement of civilian agencies and the private sector for this effort to truly succeed.
The resources of the AFP is not sufficient in resource-intensive community immersions and services. We could only offer so much. The AFP is grateful that President Duterte, who personally saw how effective the Army’s CSP in Davao City while still as Mayor, issued EO70 that institutionalized the community-oriented approach in ending the local communist armed conflict. By involving the entire government bureaucracy and mobilizing the entire nation against the CPP-NDF-NPA, we are confident that communist insurgency will be finally eliminated before the President’s term ends.”
Fulltime NPA members and part-time armed militias who surrendered are now being processed by provincial and city DILG offices for enrollment into the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP). The Provincial Governors and the City Mayor who Chair the ECLIP Committees are closely working with the DILG andother regional line agencies to expedite the release of benefits to “victims” of CPP- NDF-NPA’s lies and deception. They were exploited by the communist terrorists and their families suffered most, thus they need government assistance for their quick recovery.
4th Infantry Division Commander, MGen Franco Nemesio Gacal, the proponent of “Peaceful War” against communist insurgency highlighted the effectiveness of CSP immersions as it addresses the roots of insurgency. He said: “CSP opens the path to the entry of developmental programs, projects and activities in once conflict affected barangays. Communities that withdrew support from CPP-NDF-NPA are now cleared and ready for inter-agency socio-economic intervention through the Convergence Areas for Peace and Development (CAPDEV) Program. I congratulate every unit of 403Bde, every government agencies and every stakeholders that have poured their heart to save our brothers and sisters from the manipulation of terrorist NPAs. We are very optimistic because the entire nation and the entire bureaucracy is joining hands to end local armed conflict.”
“It is very clear that many lives are being saved through our Peaceful War, let us continue doing it to save more souls” Gacal added.
ECLIP is President Duterte’s program for regular NPA and MB that will return to the folds of the law. It include educational, skills training, housing, and livelihood assistance. Firearms renumeration will also be given for every firearms surrendered depending on caliber and made.
Soldiers on CSP also gather developmental issues in conflict affected barangays and propose necessary recommendation for funding of other government agencies such as livelihood programs, farm to market roads, schools, water system, skills training and etc.
403rd Infantry "Peacemaker" Brigade 4 Infantry Division Philippine Army
Cpt Marcelito Quijano
CMO Officer, 403Bde, 41D, PA
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
09564177497
Cpt Marcelito Quijano
CMO Officer, 403Bde, 41D, PA
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
09564177497
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.]
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