Kalinaw News: 113 New Surrenderees in Masbate, an Indication of CTG’s Irreversible Defeat—JTF Bicolandia

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 18, 2021): 113 New Surrenderees in Masbate, an Indication of CTG’s Irreversible Defeat—JTF Bicolandia



CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – Despising the evil acts of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and convinced of the government’s sincerity to help them live a better life, 113 members and supporters of the terrorist group surrendered and withdrew their membership and support from the CPP-NPA-NDF in Masbate.

Of the number, 21 surrendered on September 14 (nine were members of Militiang Bayan (MB), three were members of Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) and nine supporters) who also turned in nine low-powered firearms; 20 surrendered on September 15 (six MB, seven SPL, seven supporters); 48 surrendered on September 16 (10 MB, 32 SPL and six supporters); and 24 surrendered on September 17 (one regular NPA member, 12 SPL and 11 supporters).

They surrendered to the different Community Support Program (CSP) Teams deployed in the province.

After series of debriefings, qualified surrenderees will be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) which will grant them cash, livelihood, medical, housing and educational assistance.

The group also pledged their all-out support to end the more than five-decade armed struggle.

Lieutenant Colonel Siegfried Felipe Awichen, Battalion Commander of 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) attributed the mass surrender to the joint efforts of the Army, police and the strong clamor of the Masbateños for an armed conflict-free province.

For Colonel Aldwine Almase, Brigade Commander of 903rd Infantry Brigade, the continuous snowballing of surrenderees in the island province shows the hopeless fight of the CTG.

“The losing battle of the CTG will eventually lead to the natural death of communist insurgency, especially now that its very own members have lost their trust and confidence to their false ideology and useless cause,” Colonel Amase said.

Moreover, Police Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) highlighted that the PNP and Army are not just intensifying its interoperability but also its call on the CTG members to abandon the armed movement.

“Kung gaano tayo kasigasig sa pagtugis sa mga komunistang terorista, ganun din tayo kaseryoso sa panawagan natin sa kanilang magbalik-loob na sa pamahalaan dahil alam nating biktima lang sila ng panlilinlang ng CTG,” Police Brigadier General Estomo said.

Meanwhile, Major General Henry A Robinson Jr, Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia commended the security forces and the Masbateños for staying committed to the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.

“Hindi po natin inaangkin ang tagumpay na ito dahil lahat ng positibong resulta ng ating mga kampanya ay bunga ng ating pagtutulungan. This is now the result of the consistent convergence of efforts of all the local government units (LGUs) including the local chief executives, from their Governor down to the Mayors and Barangay officials of Masbate not to mention the leading government agencies as well as the cooperation of the Masbateños. Seeing how our plans are now coming into fruition, we are even more driven to press on the fight and totally extricate communist insurgency,” Major General Robinson said.

For 2021 alone, more than 700 CTG members and supporters have returned to the folds of the law.

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