General Santos City – Corruption and immorality issues are hounding the local command of the New People’s Army (NPA) which triggered the mass surrender of its guerillas in the provinces of Sarangani and Davao del Sur this year, former members of the leftist group claimed.
Lt. Col. Ronnie Babac, 73rd Infantry Battalion commander, said for the first quarter of this year, at least 23 NPA rebels had surrendered to local officials and military authorities in Sarangani and Davao del Sur.
Among the former NPA fighters who surrendered were Ariel Calaor and Jenelyn Ali Juan, 22 who were former members of NPA Front Guerilla 71.
She said she met her husband, Calaor, while both of them were serving the underground movement.
She said she and her husband decided to abandon the Maoist-inspired rebel group due to the brewing issues of corruption and immorality involving the local leadership of the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Lost funds
She cited the case of Commander Lucas, the secretary of NPA Front Guerilla 75 who carted away the funds of the organization amounting to P100,000 which were supposedly intended for the maternal care of NPA amazons.
Lucas, she said, had gone into hiding after he eloped with a widow of an NPA member who was killed in an encounter with military in Malita, Davao del Sur in 2014.
Lucas and his paramour, a certain ‘Ai-Ai’ decided to quit the rebel group after they were reportedly sanctioned by the NPA leadership.
Demoralizing developments
Ali Juan said the issues of immorality and corruption hounding the local leadership of the NPA demoralized the ranks of the local NPA command.
“There is a growing demoralization within the ranks of the local NPA command because of corruption and immorality issues which prompted many of our members to surrender,” she said.
Better options
Ali Juan even urged her former comrades to surrender and avail of the government’s reconciliation program with former rebels.
She said she now lives a peaceful and normal life after she reunited with her family.
“It seems that I am now a free man who enjoys the privileges under a democratic society,” Ali Juan said.
Babac said that since last year more than 80 former NPA rebels had returned to the folds of the law in Sarangani nand Davao del Sur and have been provided with livelihood assistance under the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
http://www.mb.com.ph/corruption-issues-hounding-npa-leadership-rebel-returnees-claim/
Lt. Col. Ronnie Babac, 73rd Infantry Battalion commander, said for the first quarter of this year, at least 23 NPA rebels had surrendered to local officials and military authorities in Sarangani and Davao del Sur.
Among the former NPA fighters who surrendered were Ariel Calaor and Jenelyn Ali Juan, 22 who were former members of NPA Front Guerilla 71.
Ali Juan, who was recruited to join the rebel group in 2010, served as medic to NPA guerilla unit and even took part in several encounters with government troops.
She said she and her husband decided to abandon the Maoist-inspired rebel group due to the brewing issues of corruption and immorality involving the local leadership of the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Lost funds
She cited the case of Commander Lucas, the secretary of NPA Front Guerilla 75 who carted away the funds of the organization amounting to P100,000 which were supposedly intended for the maternal care of NPA amazons.
Lucas, she said, had gone into hiding after he eloped with a widow of an NPA member who was killed in an encounter with military in Malita, Davao del Sur in 2014.
Lucas and his paramour, a certain ‘Ai-Ai’ decided to quit the rebel group after they were reportedly sanctioned by the NPA leadership.
Demoralizing developments
Ali Juan said the issues of immorality and corruption hounding the local leadership of the NPA demoralized the ranks of the local NPA command.
“There is a growing demoralization within the ranks of the local NPA command because of corruption and immorality issues which prompted many of our members to surrender,” she said.
Better options
Ali Juan even urged her former comrades to surrender and avail of the government’s reconciliation program with former rebels.
She said she now lives a peaceful and normal life after she reunited with her family.
“It seems that I am now a free man who enjoys the privileges under a democratic society,” Ali Juan said.
Babac said that since last year more than 80 former NPA rebels had returned to the folds of the law in Sarangani nand Davao del Sur and have been provided with livelihood assistance under the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.