SERVING THE PEOPLE. Ten former members of the communist New People’s Army provide manpower support during the series of relief operations in the 13 barangays of Las Nieves town, Agusan del Norte last week until Tuesday (April 28). The recipients are families severely affected by the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic. (Photo courtesy of 23IB)
Former members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) assisted soldiers from the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) and the Agusan del Norte town of Las Nieves in the series of relief distributions for poor families severely affected by the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
1Lt. Roel Maglalang, 23IB civil-military operations officer, told the Philippine News Agency Thursday that 10 former NPA rebels participated in the relief operations that started last week until Tuesday (April 28) in the 13 villages in Las Nieves town.
“These FRs (former rebels) are now under the care of 23IB. They surrendered on different dates starting from the early months of this year until April 6,” Maglalang said.
Aside from the distribution of relief goods, the 10 NPA surrenderers were also involved in the repacking and transporting of some 4,376 relief goods, Maglalang said.
“Each of the households was given six kilos of rice and assorted canned goods,” the Army official added.
In a separate statement on Wednesday, the 23IB said the former NPA rebels were elated of their participation in the relief operations because the activities allowed them to "serve the people."
“It has been our desire to help in the truest sense and we are happy that the 23IB has given us this opportunity. It’s different when we were with the communist movement when we were made to believe that we were serving the people yet we extorted money and food from them,” one of the former rebels was quoted as saying.
The former rebel added that helping the Army and the local government unit in bringing crucial aid to poor families was a way "to recompense the destruction" they caused on "communities and families while with the NPA."
Lt. Col. Francisco L. Molina Jr., 23IB commander, commended the former NPA fighters for their support to the Army-led relief efforts.
“It's overwhelming to note that the FRs now join us through manpower assistance especially in repacking and distributing food packs for the people. They realized that the government they are now with is the true government. And they are elated for the opportunity given to them to be part in extending assistance to the residents,” Molina said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101406
1Lt. Roel Maglalang, 23IB civil-military operations officer, told the Philippine News Agency Thursday that 10 former NPA rebels participated in the relief operations that started last week until Tuesday (April 28) in the 13 villages in Las Nieves town.
“These FRs (former rebels) are now under the care of 23IB. They surrendered on different dates starting from the early months of this year until April 6,” Maglalang said.
Aside from the distribution of relief goods, the 10 NPA surrenderers were also involved in the repacking and transporting of some 4,376 relief goods, Maglalang said.
“Each of the households was given six kilos of rice and assorted canned goods,” the Army official added.
In a separate statement on Wednesday, the 23IB said the former NPA rebels were elated of their participation in the relief operations because the activities allowed them to "serve the people."
“It has been our desire to help in the truest sense and we are happy that the 23IB has given us this opportunity. It’s different when we were with the communist movement when we were made to believe that we were serving the people yet we extorted money and food from them,” one of the former rebels was quoted as saying.
The former rebel added that helping the Army and the local government unit in bringing crucial aid to poor families was a way "to recompense the destruction" they caused on "communities and families while with the NPA."
Lt. Col. Francisco L. Molina Jr., 23IB commander, commended the former NPA fighters for their support to the Army-led relief efforts.
“It's overwhelming to note that the FRs now join us through manpower assistance especially in repacking and distributing food packs for the people. They realized that the government they are now with is the true government. And they are elated for the opportunity given to them to be part in extending assistance to the residents,” Molina said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101406
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