Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 30, 2020): Female rebels surrender, Army supports ending VAW Campaign
TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur- With the relentless efforts of the 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion in convincing the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) to abandon their armed struggle, two (2) female rebels voluntarily surrendered and peacefully laid down their arms at Headquarters, 26IB, Talacogon, ADS.
This is a timely surrender since the government is currently having its 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), an advocacy campaign that is observed annually from November 25 to December 12 as mandated by Proclamation 1172 that supports the Philippine government’s goal of protecting the human rights of women and girls by upholding its commitment to address all forms of gender-based violence as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.
AKA Denden and AKA Banjie both belong to Guerilla Front 88 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee operating in the municipality of San Luis and some part of La Paz, all of ADS. AKA Denden was a Militia ng Bayan (MB) for seven long years and a mother of eight children whom the youngest were twin and just three months old while AKA Banjie started in the armed group as a Platoon Medic for seven months but she was impregnated by her colleague.
“Dili na naku kaya nga magdugay pa sa kalihukan, gikinahanglan ko sa akong walo ka anak. Walay pulos ang ge pakibisog sa mga teroristang NPA tungod kay katungos usab namu nga manginabuhi nga malinawon uban among mga mahal sa kinabuhi ug mga anak,” AKA Denden said.
The CTG’s deceptive recruitment of women to be fighters for the communist cause and even become sex slaves where they are being physically and sexually abused is a grave violation of women’s rights and fundamental freedoms. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce, Commanding Officer of 26IB, denounced the abuses committed by the CPP-NPA-NDF against its women members.
“You don’t have the right to abuse these women, many have spoken out about your violations against women and it must be stopped now. To the women, speak out and report to the authorities in case your rights are violated,” he said.
“We, in the Philippine Army, have the highest respect to the women sector not only in our country but also globally. Women deserve to be respected, loved, and taken care of. I am encouraging all other female rebels just like AKA Denden and AKA Banjie to surrender now. Go home, your kids and your family are waiting for you. Be a mother to your children and a child to your mother. Christmas is at its happiest if you are with your family, celebrating with joy and peace,” Lt. Col. Goce ended.
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
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