Kalinaw News: Former Rebels of 10ID reaffirm commitment to NTF-ELCAC; objects to national peace talks

From Kalinaw News (Aug 12, 2022): Former Rebels of 10ID reaffirm commitment to NTF-ELCAC; objects to national peace talks

MAWAB, Davao De Oro – National Security Adviser, Secretary Clarita R Carlos together with the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of National Defense, Senior Undersecretary Jose C Faustino Jr conducted a dialogue with the former rebels of the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division at Kalinaw Village, Mahayag, Bunawan District, Davao City on August 11, 2022.

During the program, 10ID Commander MGen Nolasco A Mempin presented the former rebels turned peace champions. MGen Mempin said that the presence of the former rebels is a testament of the peace that has been attained in the area of 10ID.

In the course of the dialogue, former Deputy Secretary of Sub-Regional Committee One, Joy James Saguino alias Amihan, said that insurgency exists due to lack of good governance, transparency, and accountability. “Kasi once walang good governance, walang social services, insurgency ay parating nandyan para umusbong,” said Saguino.

He also added that through to the efforts of 10ID, even the farthest communities have been made accessible for better livelihood and delivery of government services.

“The friends rescued in the Eastern Mindanao Command are very much committed to help and volunteer ourselves na maging katuwang po ng bagong hanay ng NTF-ELCAC para po once and for all we can put an end to this communist insurgency.” Saguino added.

Meanwhile, former Guerilla Front 55 Secretary, Arian Jane Ramos alias Marikit emphasized in her message the atrocities committed by the Communist Terrorist Groups in Southeastern Mindanao, and how they used the Peace Talks to advance their armed struggle.

“We, the former rebels and now peace champions of 10ID, highly recommend rejecting the national peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF. Resuming the peace negotiation is a betrayal to the Filipino people and a disgrace to the nation’s achievements in dismantling the CPP-NPA-NDF”, Ramos added.

She also said that during the peace negotiations in 2016, the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee leveraged their guerilla units by exploiting the ceasefire for base consolidation, recovery, and expansion.

In her response, Secretary Carlos congratulated the former rebels for having the courage to come back to the folds of the government. Likewise, she reminded them not to put the government in the vortex of their lives and encouraged them to become resolute individuals. “You can advocate any belief system, but we really have a problem when you move away from just believing in these things, and taking action to overthrow the government of the day.” Sec Carlos added.

It can be recalled that the 1003rd Infantry Brigade of the 10ID finished the insurgency five (5) months before the end of President Duterte’s term with a total of 104 Communist NPA Terrorists neutralized and 100 firearms recovered.

[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/former-rebels-of-10id-reaffirm-commitment-to-ntf-elcac-objects-to-national-peace-talks/