LEAVING THE MOVEMENT. Local government and military officials lead the symbolic rite for the surrender of 164 regulars, militias, and supporters of the communist New People's Army on Monday (October 21, 2019). Leading the ceremony are (left to right) Maramag Mayor Levi Edma Sr., Brig. Gen Edgardo de Leon, 403rd Brigade commander, and Lt. Col Franklyn Fabic, 88th Infantry Battalion commander. (Photo courtesy of the 4th Infantry Division)
At least 164 communist rebels, militias, and supporters surrendered, burned rebel flags, and yielded firearms during a symbolic rite in San Fernando town on Monday.
In an emotional speech, Datu Mansuladi "Balakbakan" Umalis, one of the tribal leaders in the area, recalled how the New People's Army (NPA) threatened his life if he refused to join the communist rebel movement.
"Even at 10 p.m., they would knock on our doors. They want our community to join their rallies even if we don't want to," Umalis said in the dialect during the event.
In a statement, the Army's 88th Infantry Battalion based in this town said surrenderers consist of six NPA regulars, 106 Milisya ng Bayan, and 52 members of the National Democratic Front and local party branch of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) who withdrew their membership from the communist rebel movement.
According to the 88IB, the surrenderers first yielded to San Fernando Mayor Levi Edma Sr., who then turned over the group and their firearms to the Army.
Edma said the surrenderers will receive benefits under the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) for rebel returnees.
In the municipality alone, the mayor said an allocation of PHP2 million has been set aside for the former rebels' livelihood programs.
"The NPA has done nothing to help you. They even take away the rice that you planted. Do you want more of that?", Edma told the NAP supporters.
Mitoy Mansuduan, an NPA regular, said it was he who appealed for his brother "Kibang" to come down and return to the fold of the law.
"I told him, Kibang come down now and surrender. The NPA promised to support our father but even now he is still sick. Only the government can help us. It's not true that they will kill us if we surrender to the government," Mansuduan said.
James Binayao, chairperson of the Mindanao Indigenous People (IP) Youth Organization and one of IP Truth Ambassadors who traveled to the United Nations and Geneva, said their organization has been traveling to different places to spread information on the abuses and atrocities committed by the rebels.
"Education is one example of their deceits to the youths used by CPP-NPA. Examples are MSFI, Salugpongan, Alcadev. Through education, they teach our youths to be angry with the government," said Binayao, who attended Monday's surrender cermony.
Binayao was referring to the educational entities that have long been suspected of association with the NPA, often becoming recruitment and training grounds for the communist rebel movement.
Brigader General Edgardo de Leon, 403rd Brigade commander who was also present during the ceremony, said that all surrenderers are protected under the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and should not fear retaliation from the NPA.
De Leon said the NPA has deliberately kept IHL secret from its members to be able to resort to violence and instill fear among its ranks.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1083807
In an emotional speech, Datu Mansuladi "Balakbakan" Umalis, one of the tribal leaders in the area, recalled how the New People's Army (NPA) threatened his life if he refused to join the communist rebel movement.
"Even at 10 p.m., they would knock on our doors. They want our community to join their rallies even if we don't want to," Umalis said in the dialect during the event.
In a statement, the Army's 88th Infantry Battalion based in this town said surrenderers consist of six NPA regulars, 106 Milisya ng Bayan, and 52 members of the National Democratic Front and local party branch of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) who withdrew their membership from the communist rebel movement.
According to the 88IB, the surrenderers first yielded to San Fernando Mayor Levi Edma Sr., who then turned over the group and their firearms to the Army.
Edma said the surrenderers will receive benefits under the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) for rebel returnees.
In the municipality alone, the mayor said an allocation of PHP2 million has been set aside for the former rebels' livelihood programs.
"The NPA has done nothing to help you. They even take away the rice that you planted. Do you want more of that?", Edma told the NAP supporters.
Mitoy Mansuduan, an NPA regular, said it was he who appealed for his brother "Kibang" to come down and return to the fold of the law.
"I told him, Kibang come down now and surrender. The NPA promised to support our father but even now he is still sick. Only the government can help us. It's not true that they will kill us if we surrender to the government," Mansuduan said.
James Binayao, chairperson of the Mindanao Indigenous People (IP) Youth Organization and one of IP Truth Ambassadors who traveled to the United Nations and Geneva, said their organization has been traveling to different places to spread information on the abuses and atrocities committed by the rebels.
"Education is one example of their deceits to the youths used by CPP-NPA. Examples are MSFI, Salugpongan, Alcadev. Through education, they teach our youths to be angry with the government," said Binayao, who attended Monday's surrender cermony.
Binayao was referring to the educational entities that have long been suspected of association with the NPA, often becoming recruitment and training grounds for the communist rebel movement.
Brigader General Edgardo de Leon, 403rd Brigade commander who was also present during the ceremony, said that all surrenderers are protected under the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and should not fear retaliation from the NPA.
De Leon said the NPA has deliberately kept IHL secret from its members to be able to resort to violence and instill fear among its ranks.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1083807
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