From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 23, 2020): 26 ex-rebels pledge allegiance to gov't in Masbate (By Connie Calipay)
BACK TO THE FOLD OF LAW. A total of 26 members of the communist terrorist group New People's Army are presented by the military after surrendering to the authorities in Masbate province on Tuesday (Sept. 22, 2020). The NPA and its political wing, the National Democratic Front, are listed as terrorist organizations by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of 9th Infantry Division, PA)
Twenty six members of the New People's Army (NPA) communist terrorist group (CTG) and a mass base supporter who recently surrendered after a series of negotiations were formally presented by military authorities in a ceremony in Masbate province on Tuesday.
Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the surrenderers denounced terrorism and pledged allegiance to the government before the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) committee.
“Of the mass surrenderees, 15 were regular communist NPA terrorists (CNTs), nine were Militiang Bayan (MB), two were part of Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) and one supporter,” Belleza said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Four high powered firearms and 28 low powered firearms were also surrendered by them,” he added.
Belleza said the E-CLIP committee can now fast-track the payment of firearms remuneration and the delivery of benefits intended for the now considered former rebels (FRs).
He said Jimmy, a regular CTG member who was captured in one of the armed encounters in Masbate, thanked God and the security forces for giving him another chance to live a much peaceful life.
“Ako po ay isang captured o huli ng mga militar. Pero doon ko po nakita ang pagpapahalaga sa bayan na hindi pala solusyon ang giyera kundi po sa isang magandang usapan (I was a captured by military during an encounter, and then I saw and realized the importance of our community and that war is not the solution but a peace talk),” Belleza quoted Jimmy as saying.
Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho, chairman of PTF-ELCAC, in his message during the ceremony, recognized the Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their exemplary performance resulting in the continuous surrender of CTG members.
“So, we do our best so that there will be a continuance [of surrender] because this is the only catalyst or the ultimate solution for the everlasting peace not only in the province but in the entire country,” Kho said.
Maj. Gen. Henry Robinson Jr., commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia, in a statement congratulated the PTF-ELCAC for gathering a large number of surrenderers with their firearms, stressing that indeed, pure combat solutions will not solve the armed struggle.
“Sa mga kasama natin dito ngayon, nagpapasalamat ako at kayo ay nagbalik-loob na sa gobyerno at nagdesisyong itakwil ang maling ideolohiya na itinuro sa inyo. Ngayong andito na kayo, sa pamamagitan ng E-CLIP mabibigyan kayo ng iba’t-ibang tulong, kaalaman, at kasanayan na inyong magagamit sa pagbabagong buhay. Ito ay tulong ng pamahalaan hindi lamang sa inyo kundi pati na rin sa inyong pamilya at komunidad,” (For those who are here today, I thank you for returning to the fold of the government and deciding to denounce the wrong idealism that you were taught. Now that you are here, by E-CLIP you will be given different support, knowledge, and skills that will help to change your life)," Robinson said.
He added that the development is the result of decisive joint operations of the Army and PNP, effective implementation of the Modified Community Support Program as well as the intensified efforts of PTF-ELCAC coupled with the cooperation of the Masbateños in the anti-insurgency campaigns of the government.
Also present during the event were Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., head of the Southern Luzon Command and Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bustamante, director of Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5).
Parlade said with consistent convergence of efforts, insurgency can be resolved in one year's time and highlighted how serious the government is in helping the former rebels live a better life.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116352
Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the surrenderers denounced terrorism and pledged allegiance to the government before the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) committee.
“Of the mass surrenderees, 15 were regular communist NPA terrorists (CNTs), nine were Militiang Bayan (MB), two were part of Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) and one supporter,” Belleza said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Four high powered firearms and 28 low powered firearms were also surrendered by them,” he added.
Belleza said the E-CLIP committee can now fast-track the payment of firearms remuneration and the delivery of benefits intended for the now considered former rebels (FRs).
He said Jimmy, a regular CTG member who was captured in one of the armed encounters in Masbate, thanked God and the security forces for giving him another chance to live a much peaceful life.
“Ako po ay isang captured o huli ng mga militar. Pero doon ko po nakita ang pagpapahalaga sa bayan na hindi pala solusyon ang giyera kundi po sa isang magandang usapan (I was a captured by military during an encounter, and then I saw and realized the importance of our community and that war is not the solution but a peace talk),” Belleza quoted Jimmy as saying.
Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho, chairman of PTF-ELCAC, in his message during the ceremony, recognized the Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their exemplary performance resulting in the continuous surrender of CTG members.
“So, we do our best so that there will be a continuance [of surrender] because this is the only catalyst or the ultimate solution for the everlasting peace not only in the province but in the entire country,” Kho said.
Maj. Gen. Henry Robinson Jr., commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia, in a statement congratulated the PTF-ELCAC for gathering a large number of surrenderers with their firearms, stressing that indeed, pure combat solutions will not solve the armed struggle.
“Sa mga kasama natin dito ngayon, nagpapasalamat ako at kayo ay nagbalik-loob na sa gobyerno at nagdesisyong itakwil ang maling ideolohiya na itinuro sa inyo. Ngayong andito na kayo, sa pamamagitan ng E-CLIP mabibigyan kayo ng iba’t-ibang tulong, kaalaman, at kasanayan na inyong magagamit sa pagbabagong buhay. Ito ay tulong ng pamahalaan hindi lamang sa inyo kundi pati na rin sa inyong pamilya at komunidad,” (For those who are here today, I thank you for returning to the fold of the government and deciding to denounce the wrong idealism that you were taught. Now that you are here, by E-CLIP you will be given different support, knowledge, and skills that will help to change your life)," Robinson said.
He added that the development is the result of decisive joint operations of the Army and PNP, effective implementation of the Modified Community Support Program as well as the intensified efforts of PTF-ELCAC coupled with the cooperation of the Masbateños in the anti-insurgency campaigns of the government.
Also present during the event were Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., head of the Southern Luzon Command and Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bustamante, director of Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5).
Parlade said with consistent convergence of efforts, insurgency can be resolved in one year's time and highlighted how serious the government is in helping the former rebels live a better life.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116352
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