Various units of the New People’s Army (NPA) have resorted to banditry – burning three mining equipment in Mindanao and one in Luzon – following the arrest of their leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.
The said incidents, which happened last April 5, 7, 10, and 11, have thus earned these rebels the tag “bandits on the loose” by the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army here.
Capt. Christian Uy, spokesman of the 4ID, said Phil Astron Mining Company in Tubay, Agusan del Norte, St. Augustine Gold and Copper Ltd., and Apex Mining in Compostela Valley and Freeport McMoran-Phelps Dodge in Ilocos Sur were among the companies whose equipment were burned by the communists armed-wing.
He said with their paralyzed centralized logistics, the rebels have no other means to sustain their organization but to extort from mining firms.
As these developed, 37 members of Tribal Solid Mass Organization (MASSO) named “Umayam Kawilihan” and members of the Militia ng Bayan under a certain datu of Manobo tribe in CARAGA region voluntarily surrendered Monday morning to 4ID’s 26th Infantry Battalion at Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.
The members of the organization also surrendered 36 firearms and war materials consisting of two carbines, one M-79 grenade launcher, six shotguns, 12 caliber .38 revolvers, 12 Magnum .357 revolvers, two caliber .22 revolvers, one improvised explosive device (IED), one rifle grenade, and one base radio.
Uy said this has been the third batch of mass surrenderees in the 4ID in the last six months. The first was on October 30 last year with 35 former NPA members laying down 42 firearms, followed by last March with 72 former NPA regulars giving up 69 firearms for a total of 144 NPA rebels and 144 firearms.
There was also another group of 13 former rebels who surrendered recently in Compostela Valley to 10th Infantry Division, according to Uy.
Major Gen. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the 4ID, said: “The trend in the turn of events in the area of 4ID and other areas in the country only shows the uncontrolled sub-units of the NPA, basically because no one is really leading them. These NPAs are staging sabotage to extort without regard to the effects to the economy of the country which will in turn bring hardship most especially to the ordinary citizen of the country. As I have mentioned before, we will continue accommodating those rebels who would opt to join the mainstream society to enjoy peaceful life with their families."
Visaya likewise reiterates his order to all units of 4ID to continue their combat operation without let-ups to ensure that those rebels who opted to stay in the mountains will not have an easy life by creating havoc and harassing people purposely to extort money and solicit forced cooperation.
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