VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon, Jan. 20 (PIA) — Couple Renante Tumbalang alias “Jigger or War” and Resylyn Pardo aka “Jamby,” leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) under Guerilla Front 6 (GF6), along with five other NPA leaders operating in Bukidnon surrendered Thursday in Valencia City.
“Jigger,” 37, from barangay Nacabuklad, San Fernando town is the commander of GF6’s Front Operational Command, while his wife “Jamby,” 28, of barangay Namnam in the same town is the GF6 Secretary and strategist who is in command in radicalizing new members.
Their Command covers the city of Valencia and six other towns, specifically San Fernando, Kitaotao, Maramag, Don Carlos, Dangcagan, and Quezon.
The 7-man NPA leaders surrendered to Valencia City mayor Azucena Huervas and congressman Rogelio Neil Roque thru barangay Banlag councilor Saliezer Dejos.
In a press conference, the couple revealed that the loss of mass base and the military’s nonstop offensive operations trapped them in the mountain lairs.
Apart from being stuck in a series of encounters, ‘Jamby’ said they are now struggling in moving through the mountains because they lost the community’s support.
“We are running out of stocks. Our food supplies and other necessities are running very low because villagers won’t help us facilitate the freights anymore. We even gave them money to help us buy our provisions in bulk but they refused. These difficulties and various obstacles forced us to give up and decide to leave the communist movement,” Jamby said.
Likewise, her husband 'Jigger' said they are all set to abandon the CPP-NPA group because after 16 years of service to the organization, all they reaped were woes.
“We are all set for a peaceful life with our families from this day on,” he said.
Five other NPA leaders also surrendered along with the couple, namely Shairyl Pardo aka ‘MG’, platoon group squad leader, Sentro de Grabidad; Roger Gonzales aka ‘Narra,’ platoon group team leader; Regine Pardo aka ‘Raya,’ platoon leader, Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP5); Angelito Tundag aka ‘Grob,’ Vice Commanding Officer, SYP5; and Mark Jason Pardo aka ‘Rassk’, platoon officer, Sentro de Grabidad.
BGen. Edgardo De Leon, 403rd Brigade Commander said the surrender of Front Secretary is a very significant breakthrough of the Task Force ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict) efforts.
He said Jamby revealed that 18 KRBs (Kilusang Rebolusyonaryong Barangay or CPP ‘shadow government’) that she personally established in Bukidnon were dismantled due to the people’s withdrawal of membership in their “KalMas (Kalihokang Masa)” and “Sanga sa Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL).”
“Guerrilla Front 6 in Bukidnon is in the brink of collapse. Nauubos na ang pinagmamalaki ni Joma [Jose Maria Sison] noon na dumadaming bilang ng Guerrilla Front. Ang gaganda ng mga statement na binitawan ni Jamby na siyang CPP Political Leader sa six municipalities and one city in southern Bukidnon. Sustaining this ‘initial gain’ is the challenge to ELCAC at all levels. Jamby, as political and main propaganda officer of GF6 has a vast knowledge of the socio-political-economic issues that need to be addressed by local government units and regional line agencies, so the communities cleared by the Community Support Program (CSP) teams will be conflict-resilient; its people’s recovered trust and confidence in the government is sustained, and their decision to reject the NPA will not change,” BGen. De Leon said.
Jamby and Jigger, along with their five comrades, were presented by Valencia City officials to Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr as Provincial Chairman of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) Committee.
After thorough profiling, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office will determine the package of assistance that would suit the needs of these FRs (former rebels), which the military now calls “Kauban sa kalinaw ug kalamboan.”
Major General Franco Nemesio Gacal, 4ID Commander, meanwhile, commended the 403rd Brigade, the 88IB, and the local government unit of Bukidnon for winning the peaceful war.
"Our war is not focused on winning battles through barrel of guns. Ours is a peaceful war involving communities in conflict-affected areas. We, together with local leaders and our constituents, join hands and commit to battle land issues, poverty, and other problems through dialogue with the right people, organization, and agency,” MGen. Gacal said. (RLRB/PIA 10)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1033111
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