Army assures help for top rebel surrenderee in Comval

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 12): Army assures help for top rebel surrenderee in Comval

The military welcomed the surrender of a top rebel leader who used to operate in the municipalities of Compostela Valley Province to the 25th Infantry Battalion, Tuesday.

Major General Ricardo G Rainier Cruz III, commander of EastMinCom, said the surrender of the rebel leader only proved the effectiveness of the peace and development outreach program.

Cruz encouraged other rebels to mainstream back to the society like this leader. “Please take advantage of the government's integration program. It will provide you an opportunity to return back to your families and communities through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the government and together we will solve our problems the peaceful way,” Cruz said.

He said the more than 40 years of armed struggle have not solved the problems of the society and even bring more senseless deaths and miseries to thousands of Filipinos, consequently destroying the future of many Filipino youth.

Cruz urged the rebels who want to surrender to actively support the program of government to peacefully resolve all armed conflicts in the country.

He said the action of the latest surrenderee is unprecedented in Mindanao being the first top rebel leader to surrender to the authorities with the rank as party secretary.

Cruz assured that the former rebel will undergo a process where he can avail the livelihood under the CLIP of the government and will receive cash remuneration for the surrendered firearm under the AFP Guns for Peace Program.

Cruz and Major General Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 10th ID led other officers of the military in presenting the surrenderee to Army chief Lt. General Noel Coballes and to the public Wednesday following the regular meeting of the Philippine Army Multi-Sector Advisory Board in a hotel here.

Coballes lauded the troops for the latest achievement and also credited the effectiveness of the PDOP in encouraging more rebels to surrender.

“His surrender only shows the Philippine Army is doing the right approach in dealing with the insurgency problem,” he said.

Captain Severino David, deputy commander and spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command said the former rebel yielded a .357 caliber revolver.

“He joined the New People’s Army in 1997 and held various positions such as member of the Samahang Yunit Propaganda, team leader of a medical staff, political lecturer of the Pulang Bagani Command 5 until he was elevated to the position as front secretary of the front committee 34 operating in the areas of Compostela Valley,” David said.

In a separate interview, the surrenderee revealed that life on the run is full of hardship and the broken promises and disappointments in the rebel organization forced him to change his perspective and return to the folds of the law.

He wished to be given the chance to live a normal life with his family.

Records from the EastMinCom reveal that 123 communist rebels had surrendered to government from January up to the present.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381373510218