Wednesday, June 17, 2020

15 NPA rebels yield in Caraga

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 17, 2020): 15 NPA rebels yield in Caraga (By Alexander Lopez)



MASS SURRENDER. Fifteen communist New People’s Army rebels operating in Agusan del Norte surrendered to the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the Police Regional Office in Caraga Region on Tuesday (June 16, 2020). Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., Police Region Office-13 director, says the surrenderers will be enrolled in the government's integration program for rebel returnees. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13 Information Office)

Fifteen communist New People’s Army (NPA) combatants have surrendered to the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga), the region's top police official said on Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., Police Region Office-13 director, said they welcomed the surrenderers on Tuesday (June 16) at the RMFB headquarters here.

Esquivel said the surrenderers belonged to the Guerrilla Front 4A of the NPA's North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

Among the surrenderers, he said, are “Jun”, “CJ” and “Terang” -- who held sensitive positions with the GF-4A. Their identities were not divulged for security reasons.

Esquivel said Jun served as a medic, while CJ and Terang worked as revolutionary tax collectors; the rest were members of the NPA's Milisya ng Bayan operating in Nasipit town, Agusan del Norte.

They handed over to the police three .38-caliber pistols, two .357 revolvers, and 25 rounds of ammunition.


“The surrender of the 15 NPA members were the result of the intensified campaign of the PNP and other concerned agencies to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict in the province of Agusan del Norte,” Esquivel said.

He added that the Philippine National Police in Caraga Region is committed to support President Rodrigo Duterte's thrust to end local communist armed conflicts in the countryside.

“Armed struggle is not a solution to the problem. Let us work hand in hand. I know that members of the New People’s Army are tired and are longing to be with their families and loved ones. That is the reason why I am appealing to them to let the government help them on their quest for peace and to be with their families," he said.

Esquivel also expressed gratitude to the local chief executives and officials for their support and commitment to end the local insurgency in the Caraga region.

He noted that most local government units (LGUs) in the region have already passed resolutions declaring the NPA as Persona Non-Grata.

He also cited the support of the people in the communities in providing vital information to the police and the Army.

"The return of these communist terrorist rebels is the outcome of true information delivered by the masses and in collaboration with civil authorities,” Esquivel said.

He added that the new batch of surrenderers will be given financial support, legal assistance, and livelihood as part of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) of the government.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106172

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