SoCot LGU vows to safeguard IPs from NPA exploitation

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 9, 2022): SoCot LGU vows to safeguard IPs from NPA exploitation (By Roel Osano)

UNEARTHED FIREARMS. Government troops unearth an M16 rifle and an M79 grenade launcher following the surrender of two New People's Army rebels in T’boli, South Cotabato on Feb. 4, 2022. The T’boli local government vowed to protect its indigenous peoples community following the surrender of the two rebels, both IP members, from the abuse of communist rebels. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)

The local government unit of T’boli in South Cotabato vowed to safeguard its indigenous peoples (IP) community from the manipulation of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

In a statement Wednesday, T’boli Mayor Dibu Tuan said they can carry out such undertaking through the mechanism of the government’s National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

“The ideology of Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples’ Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is a poison that destroys the culture and tradition of the IPs,” he said.

The mayor’s pronouncement came after the surrender on February 4 of two NPA rebels to the Army’s 11th Special Forces Company, 5th Special Forces Battalion in the area.

The surrenderers were identified by the military only as alias Dagul, a political guide, and alias Tata, both of the Platoon Central, NPA Guerilla Front Musa, Far South Mindanao Region.

Both are IPs and residents of nearby Lake Sebu town, Tuan said.

The surrenderers brought along with them an M79 grenade launcher with five rounds of 40mm ammunition.

With the help of Dagul, government troops were also able to unearth an arms cache containing an M16 rifle and another M79 grenade launcher in Barangay Laconon, T’boli.

Brigadier General Pedro Balisi Jr, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade believes that the surrender of Dagul and companion is a big loss to the GF MUSA.

“With this accomplishment, we are expecting more surrenders to happen in the next few days,” Balisi said in a separate statement on Wednesday.

Major General Juvymax Uy, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, lauded the troops for the surrender of Dagul and Tata, as he also commended for the T’boli LGU’s support to the government’s deradicalization campaign.

“We are one with you in protecting your communities and families from the atrocities and exploitations of the NPAs,” Uy said

Uy said the campaign to crush the NPA will continue for those who refuse to surrender.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167378