Kalinaw News: 82 NPA members, 1 supporter yield in Masbate

Posted to Kalinaw News (Dec 13, 2020): 82 NPA members, 1 supporter yield in Masbate



CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur-Exhausted of fighting for a useless cause, a total of eighty three surrenderees withdrew their membership and support from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA) and National Democratic Front (NDF) in Masbate province.

Of the mass surrenderees, 9 were regular members of Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT), 40 were members of Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL), 33 were part of Militiang Bayan and a supporter who also turned in 15 firearms composed of six caliber .38, three homemade shotguns, two caliber .357, caliber .45, caliber 9mm, carbine and an improvised handgun.

They were presented to the Masbate Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MPTF-ELCAC) and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) committee around 10 o’clock in the morning at Masbate City, Saturday, December 12.

The surrenderees were given gift packs as an early Christmas present by the provincial government of Masbate.

Enlightened about the deceptions of the terrorist group they once joined, these former members of CTG will now undergo the process of reintegration to the mainstream society.

Aside from the cash, livelihood, housing, medical and educational assistance from the E-CLIP committee, they can also avail of the various programs and benefits from the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC).

This development came after a bulk of surrenderees had publicly denounced communist terrorism in the province barely three months ago.

This year alone, a total of 111 CTG members and supporters yielded to the government in Masbate.

LtCol. Siegfried Felipe Awichen, Battalion Commander of 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) based in Masbate commends his troops for going above and beyond their call of duty which contributed significantly to this breakthrough.

Meanwhile, 903rd Infantry Brigade Commander, Brigade General Noe Alberto Peñafiel Philippine Army expressed his gratitude for the Bicolanos’ active participation in the government’s campaign towards sustainable peace and development.

Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) under Major General Henry A. Robinson Jr. Philippine Army stressed that this new batch of surrenderees who chose the path of peace is a great manifestation that the government’s peace and development efforts are being implemented successfully thereby creating conflict-free and resilient communities.

“This massive snowball of returnees to the folds of the law will not be the last. Aside from our intensified focused military operations, collaborative efforts between the government and the local populace, the hardships these former members experienced inside the terrorist group led them back home. Ang inyong pagbabalik loob ay lubos na magbibigay saya sainyong pamilya lalo na ngayong kapaskuhan. Itong gift giving ay tanda ng taos-pusong pagtanggap ng gobyerno sa inyong pagbabalik-loob. Tanda rin ito na kayo ay hindi dapat matakot o mangamba dahil handa ang kasundaluhan na kayo ay protektahan at tulungang makabalik ng mapayapa sa lipunan. Thus, we are confident that soon, the insurgency will finally reach its total extinction and Bicolanos can live in a much peaceful region,” MGen. Robinson said.

MGen. Robinson, Police Colonel Joriz Cantoria, Provincial Director of Masbate Police Provincial Office; Hon. Rowena Tuason, City Mayor of Masbate and other officials and representatives of various government agencies were present to witness the event.

Prior to the ceremony, the Provincial Level Security Assessment Forum (PLSAF) which is an initiative of MGen. Robinson was also held.

It was attended by members of the security sector, security officers of vital installations and contractors, as well as LGU officials.

The PLSAF, which was already conducted in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, aims to strengthen the cooperation of the security sector and the LGU to address various security problems in the Bicol Region.

[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]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/82-npa-members-1-supporter-yield-in-masbate/