100 NPA members, supporters surrender in CAR in 9 months

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 4, 2020): 100 NPA members, supporters surrender in CAR in 9 months (By Redjie Melvic Cawis)

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Oct. 3 (PIA) -- The Police Regional Office – Cordillera reported that 100 members and supporters of the communist terrorist groups (CTG) in the Cordillera region returned to the folds of the law since January this year.

The PRO-Cor said that the intensified operations of the PRO-COR and the Armed Forces of the Philippines resulted in the voluntary surrender of a total of 100 New People's Army (NPA) active members and supporters for the period of January to September 2020. Fifty five are members of the Militia ng Bayan while the 45 others are members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA.

Most of those who surrendered were supporters of the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla (KLG) MARCO that operates in Mountain Province, and the towns of Alfonso Lista and Aguinaldo in Ifugao; and the KLG North Abra that operates in the municipalities of Boliney, Daguioman, Bucloc, Sallapadan, Malibcong, Lacub, Tineg and Baay-Licuan in the province of Abra.

There were also former rebels who belonged to the KLG BAGGAS operating in the areas of Upper Tabuk, Lubuagan and Tanudan in Kalinga and the KLG AMPIS operating in Tubo in Abra, Tadian in Mountain Province and Quirino in Ilocos Sur.

One of the most notable ranking official of the rebel group who surrendered to government authorities this year was Anne Margarette Tauli, an alleged Executive Committee member and former secretary of the Regional White Area Committee of the Ilocos- Cordillera Regional Committee .

The PRO-Cor noted that there are more who surrendered this year compared to the 72 in 2019 and 69 in 2018.

The Pro-Cor said that the continued surrender of rebels back to the mainstream society in the region is attributed to the massive information campaign and tactical operations being conducted by the operating elements of PRO-Cor and the AFP through the various Task Forces on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict in the regional, provincial and municipal levels.

According to the PRO-Cor, they are surrendering after realizing that they have been fighting without cause and have only been causing agitation to their families and communities. Moreover, they experience hardships, hunger, exhaustion, false promises and various deception.

The police force also noted that one of the factors why the rebels surrender is to avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government which was already availed by many of their comrades who are now living peacefully in the community.

PRO-Cor Regional Director PBGen R’win Pagkalinawan lauded the efforts of all operatives as well as the local government units in the region for the surrender of these CNTs and Militia ng Bayan members.

“This could not have been possible without the united efforts and support of the LGUs, the indigenous people communities and peace partner stakeholders under the Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict,” Pagkalinawan said.

He appealed to the others who are still in the mountains to come down and legitimize their cause. (JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1054974