Wednesday, June 2, 2021

NPA’s ‘expert bomber’ surrenders

From Panay News (Jun 2, 2021): NPA’s ‘expert bomber’ surrenders (By Ruby Silubrico)


Ka Alvin (right) surrenders his firearm to Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda Jr., chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 6. JAPHET FAJARDO/PN

ILOILO City – After 32 years in the mountains, an explosives specialist of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 6 on Monday, May 31.

Ka Alvin, a native of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, said he surrendered because of the hardships and hunger in the mountains.

Ka Alvin yielded to the CIDG-6 a a baby armalite rifle he allegedly got from a dead soldier during an encounter many years ago.


The CIDG processed Ka Alvin’s surrender since last week, and he was fetched in a town in the 1st District of Iloilo.

“I surrendered for my family. I’m thinking about my wife and four children… Gusto ko magpakalinong,” he said in press conference.

Ka Alvin said he was not able to finish his studies. He joined the rebel group sometime in 1986.

He said the rebels promised to support him and his family “pero baliskad ang tanan nga nahambal nila…Gutom kag wala kalinungan ang amon naaguman sa bukid,” Ka Alvin said.

According to CIDG chief, Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda Jr., Ka Alvin was detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo for the crime of murder and violation of Republic Act 9516 (illegal or unlawful possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition, of firearms, ammunition or explosives) sometime in 2009.

In 2016, Ka Alvin was released because the charges filed against him were dismissed. He revealed that he was involved in several rebel-initiated atrocities.

According to Ka Alvin, in 2000 he was among the rebels that clashed with Army troops, killing 17 on the government side.

In 2005, Ka Alvin said he was among those who attacked the Army where nine died and 18 were wounded on the government’s side.

Also, between 2002 and 2006, he was actively operating at the Aleosan (Alimodian-Leon-San Miguel) squad district and participated in several “hit and run style” ambush against government troops.

Ka Alvin also revealed that in 2007, they assassinated an Army intelligence officer in a cockpit arena in Leon, Iloilo. In 2008, he said he was among those who ambushed government troops in the same town.


Ka Alvin was sent to Malaysia by the NPA for a “demolition course” in 1989. A year after, he returned to the country and stayed in Iloilo City as team leader of the Regional Command Armed Liquidation Squad Special Operations Group (RCALS-SOG).

“After my training sa Malaysia, naging eksperto ako sa bomba pero wala ako nagtudlo sa mga kaupod ko,” he said.

He added that some of his companions wanted to surrender but they didn’t know who to trust.

For Balmaceda, the surrender of Ka Alvin was a big blow for the rebel groups.

“Kasi ang mga leaders nila ay nakukuha na natin. We encourage other members na mag-surrender na kayo… hindi kayo mamatay as long as mag-surrender kayo peacefully,” Balmaceda said./

https://www.panaynews.net/npas-expert-bomber-surrenders/

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.