Posted to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Mar 7, 2022): Salugpungan students-turned-NPA, other personalities yield as EastMinCom pursue CTG remnants
AFP Radio DWDDSalugpungan students-turned-NPA, other personalities yield as EastMinCom pursue CTG remnants
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – More Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members who are former students of the so-called “lumad schools” and its Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) members continue to surface as the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), under the supervision of LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, intensifies its campaign to pursue the remnants of dismantled CTG units in Eastern Mindanao and finally end the local communist armed conflict.
This came after more than 200 remaining members and followers of the Sub-Regional Guerilla Unit (SRGU), Sub-Regional Committee 5 (SRC5), Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) surrendered en masse to the combined troops of 1003rd Brigade and Davao del Norte Provincial Police Office during the conduct of “Community Surrender and Declaration of Pasalikway Ceremony against the CTG" held at the Balimba Hills, Sitio JBL, Brgy. Sto Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte on February 28, 2022.
The surrenderees are composed of the 13 former students of Salugpungan Ta'Tatanu Igkanugon Learning Center Inc. (STTILCI) who became CTG members, two former teachers of the same school, eight regular members of SRGU, SRC5, SMRC, six Milisyang Bayan members, four Komiteng Rebolusyunaryo sa Munisipalidad (KRM) personalities, 168 Komiteng Rebolusyunaryo sa Barangay (KRB), and seven UCCP Haran "bakwit."
They also brought various high-powered firearms and war material composed of an RPG Rocket Launcher, a Caliber .50 Barret Sniper, two M653 Rifles, four M16 Rifles, a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), a Carbine Rifle, two Anti-Personnel Mines (APM), assorted magazines, various ammunitions, two Bandoliers, four containers of rice, and Medical paraphernalia, during the ceremony.
The yielders revealed that the sustained focus military operations that led to the collapse of the SRC5, added by the lost support of the masses to the armed movement because of the series of developments made by the government in their former mass bases, convinced them to reject the failed rebellion.
Prior to the mass surrender, it can be recalled that former high-ranking members of the SRC5, SMRC led by Ida Marie Montero alias Mandy who yielded to the 1003rd Brigade on January 13 this year, encouraged her former comrades to return to the folds of the law and support the government.
"The cooperation of alias Mandy and other former rebels who previously encouraged their comrades to turn in, as well as provided our troops with valuable information on their whereabouts, allowed us to locate all remnants of SCR5 and finally convinced them to surrender," LtGen. Almerol said.
"Most significant of this is the surrender of former Salugpungan students and teachers, which gave us another proof that, indeed, there is an underground activity in these fake "lumad schools." The CTG lured our IP children to the terrorist movement, whose only desire is to be educated but were instead radicalized by their teachers," LtGen. Almerol added.
It can be recalled that EastMinCom troops neutralized Chad Errol Booc alias Chad and Jojarain Alce Nguho II alias Rain, together with three other CTG personalities during the series of armed encounters in Brgy. Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro on February 24, 2022.
Both personalities were also pointed out by their former students and comrades as volunteer teachers and recruiters of CTG-linked schools such as Salugpungan, Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (ALCADEV), and Community Technical College of Southern Mindanao (CTCSM), who eventually joined the armed struggle as part of their "revolutionary integration."
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol lauded the combined efforts of the troops, PNP, former rebels, and the Local Government Units for the successful clearing of the remnants of SRC5.
"This is yet another testament of the effectiveness of President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order 70 which institutionalized the Whole-of-Nation Approach. The SRC5, which is considered the most active SRC unit of the CTG in the country, is now demolished. We owe this not only to our security forces but also to our civilian counterparts and local leaders who equally contributed finally ending the local communist armed conflict," the EastMinCom Commander said.
He also called upon the remaining members of the terrorist groups in Eastern Mindanao who are still hesitant to surrender "due to fears ingrained by their leaders."
"Your former comrades who are now at the side of our government are proof that they are now living with freedom after they chose to yield. It is high time for you to follow in their footsteps, and not those who chose to die for a failed cause. The benefits of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and your families are waiting on your return," LtGen. Almerol emphasized.
(Source: EASTERN MINDANAO COMMAND, AFP )
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