CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte – A ranking Communist New People’s Army (NPA) leader voluntarily surrendered to the command group of the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion (29th IB) in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on Tuesday.
NPA (FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Earlier, the rebel leader yielded to the field unit of the 29th IB in Surigao del Norte on Wednesday, March 11.
The rebel returnee was only identified as a certain “Ka Jumong” by the military for security reasons. He was allegedly the leader of Sentro de Grabidad (SDG) Platoon Kalaw of Guerrilla Front 16 (GF 16) of the CPP-NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
He turned over his M653 rifle to the command group of the 29th IB, along with five magazines loaded with live ammunitions, personal belongings and anti-government and communist documents.
The rebel returnee disclosed his sad experience in the mountains, the hardship he had to undergo, the lack of food, and failed promises by the Communist movement.
“His hardship and concern about the welfare of his family prompted him also to run away from the armed struggle and wanted to live his life with his family,” said 29th IB commander Lt. Col. Isagani Criste.
“I’m grateful that despite having gone astray from the right path, my family still accepted me and the Army still gave me chance to live a new life with my family,” said the 29th IB commander, quoting the statement of the rebel leader.
The 29th IB commander was grateful to the former rebel leader for also responding the peace and development program implemented by the Army and police units and the local government units.
Lt. Col. Criste called on the remaining rebels still in the mountains to lay down their arms and surrender, too.
“Wake up and shake off the chains that bind and snare you. Surrender now and be with your family,” the 29th IB commander said.
Rebels who would give up the armed struggle would benefit from the government’s livelihood and cash assistance through Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), which is part of the Duterte administration’s approach to ending the 50-year-old communist insurgency in the country, he added.
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