Weeping mother to NPAs: Let my son return home

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 24, 2020): Weeping mother to NPAs: Let my son return home (By Camille M. Bumatay, CMO 8IB, 4ID)

IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon -- A 40 year-old mother begged the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to return her 23-year-old son who was fooled into joining the struggling communist-NPAs.

She said her son served as the NPA’s courier until he was not allowed to go back home.

In an interview, the weeping mother—known to her friends as “Mag”—tries to hold back her tears as she called the NPA’s to return her son who was recruited without her knowledge last May 12 in Sitio San Roque, barangay Sinanglanan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

“My son was fooled when they [NPAs] told him that they will send him to school thru the NPA’s “free education” program,” she said in dialect.

The sobbing mother also pleaded to government authorities to help her, as her son will never have a future with the communist rebels.

"Sa mga NPA nga nagkuha sa akong anak nga lalaki, ako nagapakilu-oy sa inyo nga ibalik intawon ninyo ang akong anak. Wala siya'y kaugmaon kaninyo. Naa pa siyay dagko nga pangandoy dili lang alang sa iyang kaugalingon apan sa amo sab nga pamilya. Anak, palihog balik na sa atong panimalay. Gahulat mi sa imo. (To the NPAs who took my son, I'm begging, please let him return home. He has no future with you. He has big dreams not only for himself but also for our family. My son, please come home, we are waiting for you),” Mag said.

Lt Col Edgardo V. Talaroc Jr, 8th Infantry Battalion commander, meanwhile, said "Gipadayag nako ang akong lawom nga simpatiya sa nahitabo sa anak nga lalaki ni @Mag. Sa mga NPA, ihunong na ang pagmani-obra sa mga kabatan-onan aron lang ipadayon ang inyong mga bulok nga programa. (I extend my compassion to what happened to the son of “Mag.” To the NPAs, stop manipulating children and youth just to further your wicked programs).” (CMBumatay, CMO, 8IB PA/PIA Bukidnon)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1042610