SYMBOL OF SURRENDER. One of seven New People’s Army rebels surrenders his firearm to Lt. Col. Geoffrey Carandang (left), the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, during rites held inside the 39IB headquarters in Makilala, North Cotabato on Friday (Aug. 4, 2020). The batch of NPA surrenderers, which included two minors, also surrendered seven high-powered firearms (inset) to the military. (Photo courtesy of 39IB)
MAKILALA, North Cotabato – Seven communist New People’s Army rebels, including two minors, yielded to the military here on Friday.
1st Lt. Walter Jhun Orille, civil-military operations officer of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB), said the surrender of the NPA rebels was the result of focused security operations and community support program through the integration military personnel to communist- influenced villages.
The 39IB said it has coordinated with police counterparts in the surrender of the militants belonging to the NPA Guerilla Front Alip-Far South Mindanao Region (GFA-FSMR).
For security reasons, Orille identified the five surrenderers only as a certain Commander Arum, alias Argus, the team leader; alias Bruno; alias Loloy, and alias Joy, both mass-based organizers.
The two minors were aged 15 and 16 years old.
The surrenderers also yielded seven firearms that included two M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, and an M79 grenade launcher, among others.
“We just want to return to our families because we have been duped into joining a futile cause,” Arum said in the vernacular.
Aside from hardships in the mountains, the relentless combat operation by the 39IB led to their surrender, Arum added.
Orille said the GFA-FSMR operates in the remote areas in the towns of Matanao and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur, and Makilala in North Cotabato.
“Their miserable condition is aggravated by their group’s financial problems. They confided that their extortion activities waned as government security operations intensified,” Orille said.
Other military and local government officials present during the surrender rites were Army’s 10th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Reuben Basiao; Col. Potenciano Camba, of the 1002nd Brigade; Lt. Col. Geoffrey Carandang of the 39IB, Davao del Sur Vice-Governor Marc Cagas and Matanao Vice Mayor Vincent Fernandez.
Orille said the surrenderers are entitled to benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), which will be implemented in partnership with the local government units, the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, and the Department of Agriculture.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114514
1st Lt. Walter Jhun Orille, civil-military operations officer of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB), said the surrender of the NPA rebels was the result of focused security operations and community support program through the integration military personnel to communist- influenced villages.
The 39IB said it has coordinated with police counterparts in the surrender of the militants belonging to the NPA Guerilla Front Alip-Far South Mindanao Region (GFA-FSMR).
For security reasons, Orille identified the five surrenderers only as a certain Commander Arum, alias Argus, the team leader; alias Bruno; alias Loloy, and alias Joy, both mass-based organizers.
The two minors were aged 15 and 16 years old.
The surrenderers also yielded seven firearms that included two M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, and an M79 grenade launcher, among others.
“We just want to return to our families because we have been duped into joining a futile cause,” Arum said in the vernacular.
Aside from hardships in the mountains, the relentless combat operation by the 39IB led to their surrender, Arum added.
Orille said the GFA-FSMR operates in the remote areas in the towns of Matanao and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur, and Makilala in North Cotabato.
“Their miserable condition is aggravated by their group’s financial problems. They confided that their extortion activities waned as government security operations intensified,” Orille said.
Other military and local government officials present during the surrender rites were Army’s 10th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Reuben Basiao; Col. Potenciano Camba, of the 1002nd Brigade; Lt. Col. Geoffrey Carandang of the 39IB, Davao del Sur Vice-Governor Marc Cagas and Matanao Vice Mayor Vincent Fernandez.
Orille said the surrenderers are entitled to benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), which will be implemented in partnership with the local government units, the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, and the Department of Agriculture.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114514
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