With
the government delivering more infrastructure and livelihood in the
countryside, more rebels are surrendering in the Eastern
Mindanao area, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista on Friday.
He
made the announcement after 53 communist rebels under Embay Casal Gayaw alias
"Rixan", leader of the New People's Army (NPA) Front Committee 34
operating in the boundaries of Agusan, Bukidnon, and Davao provinces,
surrendered with 53 assorted firearms to the 403rd Infantry Brigade at
Impalambong, Malaybalay City last Wednesday.
Mass
surrenders are occurring in the rebel ranks due to the growing disappointment
of indigenous communities on the NPA leadership in the area because of
undelivered promises.
Wednesday's
surrender followed the 97 NPAs who left the rebel group last month and 72
rebels in March.
The
snowballing number of former NPA rebels can also be attributed to the
diminished leadership following the arrest of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, ranking
leaders of the group, early this year.
With
this, the AFP continues to reach out to the rebel group to abandon their armed
struggle and join the government in finding a peaceful solution to their
problems.
"The
AFP will also intensify its partnership with local chief executives and private
organizations to address the grievances of Filipinos in far-flung communities
to prevent selfish interests from taking advantage of the situation,"
Bautista stressed.
He
added that the former rebels are expected to receive cash grants from the AFP
for the surrendered firearms.
Many
rebel returnees also received other support packages including initial cash
assistance of ₱15,000 and livelihood assistance of ₱50,000 coming from Office
of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
Bautista
lauded the rebels “for returning to the government fold, and finally realizing
that the armed struggle is not the solution."
"Taking
the lives of your fellow Filipinos is not the solution to resolve poverty. We
all have problems to face and there are a lot of threats that will come but I
can assure you that we can overcome all of these if we will unite together as
Filipinos,” he concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=650924
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