Kalinaw News: Surrender of NPA members in Masbate continue, E-CLIP committee welcomes 16 new surrenders

Posted to the Kalinaw News Website (Jul 7, 2021): Surrender of NPA members in Masbate continue, E-CLIP committee welcomes 16 new surrenders

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur-From being outlaws, sixteen members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) are now included in the skyrocketing number of Former Rebels (FRs) who abandoned the armed struggle to work hand in hand with the government in eradicating communist insurgency.

In a ceremony held at Tico Maristela Sports and Cultural Center in Aroroy, Masbate around 10 o’clock in the morning, Tuesday, July 6, the new batch of surrenderers were presented to the Aroroy Local Peace Engagement Team headed by Hon. Mayor Arturo Virtucio.

Seeing the hopeless and useless cause of the terrorist group that has endangered the lives of innocent civilians including their own families, the said surrenderers composed of three regular NPA members and 13 Militiang Bayan (MB) members yielded to the government last July 2, bringing along various firearms, including a KG9 submachine gun which they symbolically turned-over to the committee during the event.

Afterwards, the group took an oath of allegiance as a sign of their denouncement of CTG’s terrorism and false ideologies.

Lt. Col. Siegfried Felipe Awichen, Battalion Commander of 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB), congratulated the FRs for making the wise decision of withdrawing their membership and support from the CPP-NPA-NDF which, in return, will lead them to a new and more peaceful life.

The now considered FRs will receive complete set of benefits upon finishing the E-CLIP process.They will also avail various programs from different government agencies on top of the E-CLIP which will grant them financial, livelihood, educational, medical, and housing assistance.

On the other hand, Col. Aldwine Almase, Brigade Commander of 903rd Infantry Brigade, underscored that the Army together with the PNP will continue its intensified security operations and peace initiatives until Masbate finally becomes an armed conflict-free province.

“Ang patuloy na tagumpay ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan kasama ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng ating pamahalaan laban sa terorismo ay lalong magpapaigting ng ating kampanya upang wakasan ang karahasan, tulungan ang mga gustong magbalik-loob sa pamahalaan at tuluyan ng tuldukan ang walang kabuluhang ipinaglalaban ng mga teroristang komunista,” Col. Almase said.

Meanwhile, MGEN HENRY A ROBINSON JR PA, Commander of Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB), lauded the Masbateños for sustaining the momentum against the CTG.

“These continuous gains in Masbate is not the work of the government alone, we have the Masbateños to be thankful for. Had it not been for their overwhelming support, our campaigns will be futile. To the surrenderers, aside from the E-CLIP Committee, you also have the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) to assist you as you all start anew. Thank you for heeding the call and setting an example to your former comrades and for proving them that even when you were once deceived by the CTG, there’s still hope for you,” MGen. Robinson said.

Also attending the event were PCol. Joriz Cantoria, Provincial Director of Masbate Police Provincial Office and Mayor Arturo Virtucio Jr. of Aroroy.

It can be recalled that just last month, particularly from June 18-28, 505 CTG members and supporters returned to the folds of the law–the biggest number of surrenderer in Masbate weeks after the tragic death of Kieth and Nolven Absalon in the hands of ruthless communist terrorists.

[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/surrender-of-npa-members-in-masbate-continue-e-clip-committee-welcomes-16-new-surrenders/