Kalinaw News: Ex-NPA mother reunites with daughter after 2 years

Posted to Kalinaw News (May 3, 2021): Ex-NPA mother reunites with daughter after 2 years



Ex-NPA mother reunites with daughter after 2 years

IMPASUGONG, BUKIDNON. May 3 – After two years of separation because of her membership with the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG), a mother has finally met her daughter at the Headquarters of 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion, Impasugong, Bukidnon on April 28, 2021.

Melina M Gamut @Mila, a Former Rebel (FR) said that a week after giving birth to her second child in 2019, she was forced to hand the baby over to the Benlot family who were back then still supporters of the communist rebels. She added that she left the child at Sitio Kisayab, Brgy Bonacao, San Fernando, Bukidnon.

Melina revealed that, “Grabe akong kasubo, kahadlok ug kamingaw tungod dili nako kauban akong anak, namatay akong bana ug namatay usab akong igsuon. Kining tanan nahitabo tungod ako nahimong myembro sa NPA.” (I suffered from depression, fear, and longing because my daughter was not with me, my husband died, and my younger brother also. All these happened because I became a member of New People’s Army.)

With the joint efforts of the 56th Infantry Battalion (56IB) and the 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB), Melina was able to reunite with her daughter and she emotionally said, “Dako ang akong pasasalamat sa 8IB ug 56IB sa ilang dili maihap nga mga paningkamot aron nga makauban nako akoang anak. Sa akong mga kauban kaniadto, mas maayo nga magsurender na karon ug mobalik sa inyong pamilya sa wala pa namatay ang inyong bana, asawa o igsuon susama sa nahitabo sa akoa. (I am very thankful to the 8th Infantry Battalion and 56th Infantry Battalion for their endless efforts in order for me to finally be reunited with my daughter. To my former comrades, I urge you to return to your family before your husband, wife or brother dies just like what happened to me.)

Lieutenant Colonel Norman Valdez, Commander, 56th Infantry Battalion said, “Dako ang akong pasalamat nga sa katapusan nga naamgohan ni Melina ang mga kalisud sa pag-uban sa NPA ug nakahukom nga mosurender. Ang nasaksihan namo nga panagtagbo sa inahan ug anak ang buot namo nga mahitabo sa tanang myembro sa CTG. Sa tanan nga nahabilin nga mga NPA, nahibal-an nako nga gikapoy namo ug giawhag ko kamo nga mosurender aron makauban ang inyong pamilya,” (I am happy that in the end Melina realized the result of being an NPA and that she decided to surrender. Her reunion with her daughter is what we also aim to happen to other members of the Communist-terrorist Group. We call on you to surrender and choose to be with your family.)

Lieutenant Colonel Edgardo Talaroc Jr, Commander, 8th Infantry Battalion also said, “Nakita ninyo ang kamatuoran nga gibuhat sa komunistang grupo kang Melina. Giguba nila ang iyang kinabuhi ug pamilya nga maoy hinungdan sa iyang kasubo. Karon ang oras nga imong patalinghugan ang panawagan sa gobyerno nga biyaan na ang armadong pakigbisog aron makaubang malipayon ang inyong pamilya. Maghiusa kita alang sa kalinaw nga walay panagsangka ug kamatayon.” (You saw what the communist group did to Melina. They destroyed her life and family which caused her great sorrow. Now is the time to heed the call of the government to leave the armed struggle and choose to live happily with your family. Let us all work together to finally achieve peace without bloodshed.)

In the meantime, Melina and her daughter will be under the custody of the 56th Infantry Battalion.



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https://www.kalinawnews.com/ex-npa-mother-reunites-with-daughter-after-2-years/