4 rebels yield in Kalinga

From the Sun Star-Baguio (Oct 27, 2019): 4 rebels yield in Kalinga

FOUR rebels voluntarily surrendered on October 23 at Camp Juan Duyan in Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga.

This, following the recent surrender of New People's Army (NPA) Commander “Ka Diwa”.

The four were former members of Militia ng Bayan under Lejo Cawilan Command. They were identified through their aliases as Abag, Amaya, Berna, and Yasel, all residents of Balbalan, Kalinga.

Abag surrendered his one M1 Garrand rifle loaded with two clip type magazines and seven ammunitions, while Amaya turned over one Assault Rifle 18, two magazines and 25 ammunitions.

Berna and Yasel surrendered without firearms.

At present, the former rebels are now under the protection of the authorities for the fast facilitation of benefits and financial assistance that would allow them to seek a reformed life with their families after opting to withdraw from their armed struggle.

The surrender was made through the concerted efforts of personnel from the Regional Intelligence Division Cordillera (RidCor), Provincial Intelligence Bureau (PIB), Kalinga Provincial Police Office (KPPO), Regional Intelligence Unit-Cordillera (RIU-14), 50Ist Infantry Brigade, 503rd Brigade of the Philippine Army, Military Intelligence Group (MIG-2), and 53rd Military Intelligence Command.

Police Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson, Police Regional Office Cordillera (ProCor) director, said the surrender of the former members of the communist group is a sign of their unwillingness to continue with their supposed struggle and to go back to society.

Meanwhile, Leno Cawilan Command of the NPA claimed in a statement that this was an old tactic being employed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) while corruption still expands in the reactionary government under the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).

It claimed there have been similar made-up surrenderers in the provinces in the past and pointed out that the 69 alleged surrenderers in 2016 who were in a joint gathering in Lubuagan, Kalinga were not members of the NPA.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1829406