NPA commander surrenders after comrades throw remains of pregnant fiancée into ravine

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 6, 2020): NPA commander surrenders after comrades throw remains of pregnant fiancée into ravine (By Mike Crismundo)

CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – A commander of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the 58th Infantry Battalion (58th IB), military reported Saturday.

In a statement sent to The Manila Bulletin on Saturday night, the civil military operations (CMO) officer of the 58th IBFirst Lt. Jefferson M. Mariano said “Ka Prats”, vice commander of a sub-regional committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA Northern Central Mindanao Region Command (NCMRC) surrendered on Tuesday because of he said was the “inhuman leadership of the godless Communist movement”.

The former rebel commander brought with him his AK47 rifle and live ammunitions, and handed these over to the command group of 58th IB.

Quoting “Ka Prats”, the 58th IB CMO officer said that he returned to the fold of the law because of what a former comrade did to the body of alias “Ka Cyril” who happened to be his fiancee.

It can be recalled that the government troops had an encounter with the NPA last August 14 in Barangay Bal-ason, Gingoog City which resulted in the death of “Ka Cyril”.

According to him, he got into a heated argument with an alias “Jackem”, and pointed his firearm at him when the latter ordered that “Ka Cyril” be thrown into a ravine, Mariano said.

“I am not angry with the soldiers for killing my fiancée, what I can’t accept is the decision to throw the cadaver into the ravine instead of leaving or hiding it somewhere. It is very disrespectful, especially on my part,” the 58th IB CMO officer said, quoting the statement of “Ka Prats”.

He also told the military that his fiancee was five months pregnant when they were caught up in the encounter. He also revealed that there were three other wounded comrades in their group during the encounter, with one among them in critical condition.

Meanwhile, 58th IB commander Lt. Col. Ricky L Canatoy welcomed the new rebel returnee, and encouraged the remaining NPA members to abandon the armed struggle.

“To alias Prats, we extend our deepest condolences to what had happened to his wife. If only the NPAs permitted her to rest and go back to the mainstream society, we could avoid this kind of unnecessary sacrifices of lives,” he said.

“However, if they insist to go against the government and continue to spoil the peace, we will do the best we can to hit them hard,” the 58th IB commander said.

“To the remaining NPAs It is a high time for you to leave the terrorist group and avail the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive and Local Integration Program (ECLIP),” he said.

“We welcome anyone who desires to lay down his arm and return to the folds of the law. Rest assured that the Philippine Army will assist you as you start your new life in the mainstream society,” said Canatoy.

“Ka Prats” is now undergoing custodial and stress debriefing at the headquarters of the 58th IB prior to his enrollment to ECLIP, Mariano added.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/09/06/npa-commander-surrenders-after-comrades-throw-remains-of-pregnant-fiancee-into-ravine/