CNT member, Militia ng Bayan surrender in SurSur

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 27, 2020): CNT member, Militia ng Bayan surrender in SurSur (By PIA-Surigao del Sur)

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 27 (PIA) -- A member of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorist (CNT), and a Militia ng Bayan (MB) have voluntarily surrendered with their firearms to the headquarters of 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB), Philippine Army in Barangay Dayoan, Tago town on Sunday, a military official confirmed.

Capt. Jonald Romorosa, 36IB civil-military operations officer, identified the CNT member as alias “JR”, 32 years old, and a former member of Platoon 8, Guerilla Front 19 (GF 19), North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC). He brought along with him one M16 rifle and short steel magazine eight rounds of live ammunition. Accordingly, alias “JR” was a Manobo tribe member and a resident of Barangay Bagyang in San Miguel town.

Another personality who surrendered was identified as alias “Jay”, 33 years old, and a former MB Assistant Team Leader of GF 16, NEMRC. He brought with him one caliber 45 and two short magazines with four rounds of live ammunition. He was also a Manobo tribe member and a resident of Barangay Poblacion in San Miguel town.

Both surrenderees revealed that they wanted to live a normal life with their family.

The successful surrender was made possible with the help of the Indigenous People (IP) leaders, former rebels and the intervention of the 36IB through its Community Support Program, it was learned.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Jezreel Diagmel, 36IB commanding officer, said that because of the relentless military operation of the 36IB troopers and the pursuit of localized peace with the terrorist group, other sectors of the society and the people themselves are becoming more and more active in supporting Executive Order Number 70.

“The CNT learned the genuine offer of the government towards achieving peace and development. They have made the worthy decision of laying down their arms and return to the folds of the law,” he said.

Lt. Col. Diagmel also called on the remaining CNT members to surrender and lay down their arms. “Return to the folds of the government and live a normal and productive life, and help the government to achieve a long and lasting peace that every peace-loving Surigaonons are longing for,” Lt. Col. Diagmel noted.

Also, Capt. Romorosa revealed that the surrenderees would undergo the validation process for them to avail in the enrollment to the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), the government intervention package for the former rebels. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1035374