BACK TO THE FOLDS OF THE LAW. Six New People's Army (NPA) members surrender to military authorities in the province of Zamboanga del Sur on Friday (August 2, 2019). Photo shows Ka Diego (in mask) handing over a handgun to Governor Victor Yu (in white polo) during a courtesy meeting with the provincial government and military officials at the governor's office. (Photo courtesy of Marlon Pañares)
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur -- Six members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to military authorities here Friday.
Lt. Col. Marlow Patria, the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion commander, said they surrendered 15 days after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) declared the NPA as persona non grata in this province.
The surrender of the six rebels was facilitated by Joel Babayson, barangay chairperson of Lison Valley, this city, Patria said.
The NPA surrenderers, led by a certain Ka Diego, pledged allegiance to the government during a courtesy meeting on Friday with Governor Victor Yu, 1st District Rep. Divina Grace Yu, 2nd District Rep. Leonardo Babasa Jr., and Board Member John Regala.
According to the military, Ka Diego joined the NPA three years ago and was operating in Lison Valley. The youngest among the surrenderers is 17.
Patria said the surrender of Ka Diego and his companions was the result of "fruitful information dissemination about the benefits the government provides to former rebels."
The continuous military patrol in the villages, he said, has also put pressure on the rebels, prompting many of them to surrender.
“The ‘good news’ about the benefits and privileges of returning to the government reaches them (NPA) so rather than resisting our forces, they realize that they have an option and that enables them to easily decide to go down from the hinterlands and return to their normal lives with their families,” Patria said.
Rep. Yu said she was elated that Ka Diego's group had returned to the fold of the law, adding that it signified their "trust to the government and a proof that change has happened.”
Yu said insurgency is one factor that hinders the development of this province.
Meanwhile, Board Member Regala, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on peace and order, said the surrender of Ka Diego’s group will enable the former rebels "to see the difference in life living in peace than that with the NPA."
“Let’s make them an instrument to inform their former comrades, who are still in the hills, to return to the fold of the law,” he said.
Regala said the Board decided to declare the NPA as persona non-grata because “we don’t want that there will be someone or something detrimental that can affect our system of government.”
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1076824
Lt. Col. Marlow Patria, the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion commander, said they surrendered 15 days after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) declared the NPA as persona non grata in this province.
The surrender of the six rebels was facilitated by Joel Babayson, barangay chairperson of Lison Valley, this city, Patria said.
The NPA surrenderers, led by a certain Ka Diego, pledged allegiance to the government during a courtesy meeting on Friday with Governor Victor Yu, 1st District Rep. Divina Grace Yu, 2nd District Rep. Leonardo Babasa Jr., and Board Member John Regala.
According to the military, Ka Diego joined the NPA three years ago and was operating in Lison Valley. The youngest among the surrenderers is 17.
Patria said the surrender of Ka Diego and his companions was the result of "fruitful information dissemination about the benefits the government provides to former rebels."
The continuous military patrol in the villages, he said, has also put pressure on the rebels, prompting many of them to surrender.
“The ‘good news’ about the benefits and privileges of returning to the government reaches them (NPA) so rather than resisting our forces, they realize that they have an option and that enables them to easily decide to go down from the hinterlands and return to their normal lives with their families,” Patria said.
Rep. Yu said she was elated that Ka Diego's group had returned to the fold of the law, adding that it signified their "trust to the government and a proof that change has happened.”
Yu said insurgency is one factor that hinders the development of this province.
Meanwhile, Board Member Regala, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on peace and order, said the surrender of Ka Diego’s group will enable the former rebels "to see the difference in life living in peace than that with the NPA."
“Let’s make them an instrument to inform their former comrades, who are still in the hills, to return to the fold of the law,” he said.
Regala said the Board decided to declare the NPA as persona non-grata because “we don’t want that there will be someone or something detrimental that can affect our system of government.”
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1076824
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