Lt. Col. Francisco L. Molina Jr., commander of the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion. (Photo courtesy of 23IB)
Hardship, hunger, and pregnancy pushed two medics of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) to surrender to the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) in the Agusan del Norte town of Buenavista.
Lt. Col. Francisco L. Molina Jr., 23IB commander, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday that concerned citizens in Sitio Cabalalahan, Barangay Guinabsan, Buenavista sent text messages to the Army regarding the situation of two pregnant NPA members settling temporarily in a mass supporter’s house.
“When we verified that the information was positive, we immediately proceeded (to) the area and found the two pregnant NPA members,” Molina said.
The two were brought to the 23IB headquarters on May 16 and were immediately processed, considering their condition and security, he added.
“Both were abandoned by their comrades in Barangay Sangay, Buenavista where they were provided with a barangay pass so that they could proceed to the town proper, particularly at the Municipal Health Office, for an endorsement to have their medical check-up in an OB-Gyne in Butuan City,” Molina said.
He identified them as “Apay”, 38, in Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental, and “Wena”, 18, a resident of Buenavista.
In an interview on Friday, Apay said she served as the medic of Guerrilla Front (GF) 4B of the NPA's North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
“I was recruited by the NPA in our barangay in 2006. I am a medic at GF-4B for more than 13 years. I was trained by the NPA since I joined them as a medic,” Apay said, adding that she is married to “Budo”, a regular member of GF-4B.
“We have three children, all male. The eldest is now 12. They are staying now with my mother and sisters. The child I carry in my womb is our fourth,” she said, adding all she wants now is to see her children.
Lt. Col. Francisco L. Molina Jr., 23IB commander, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday that concerned citizens in Sitio Cabalalahan, Barangay Guinabsan, Buenavista sent text messages to the Army regarding the situation of two pregnant NPA members settling temporarily in a mass supporter’s house.
“When we verified that the information was positive, we immediately proceeded (to) the area and found the two pregnant NPA members,” Molina said.
The two were brought to the 23IB headquarters on May 16 and were immediately processed, considering their condition and security, he added.
“Both were abandoned by their comrades in Barangay Sangay, Buenavista where they were provided with a barangay pass so that they could proceed to the town proper, particularly at the Municipal Health Office, for an endorsement to have their medical check-up in an OB-Gyne in Butuan City,” Molina said.
He identified them as “Apay”, 38, in Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental, and “Wena”, 18, a resident of Buenavista.
In an interview on Friday, Apay said she served as the medic of Guerrilla Front (GF) 4B of the NPA's North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
“I was recruited by the NPA in our barangay in 2006. I am a medic at GF-4B for more than 13 years. I was trained by the NPA since I joined them as a medic,” Apay said, adding that she is married to “Budo”, a regular member of GF-4B.
“We have three children, all male. The eldest is now 12. They are staying now with my mother and sisters. The child I carry in my womb is our fourth,” she said, adding all she wants now is to see her children.
“I have not seen them in the past nine years. I do not know if they can still recognize me now.”
Wena, meanwhile, said she worked as a medic for GF 4A, where her father and older brother are regular members.
“I was still 15 and studying at Buenavista National High School when the NPA started recruiting me. I left my schooling and joined them, considering that my older brother and father are also NPA members,” she said, adding that she was also trained as a medic and served GF-4A for almost three years.
Wena recounted that she had a relationship with a certain “Lahi”, the father of the child she carries but that they were not married.
“I was told that Lahi was among those killed in the encounter last May 10 in the boundary of Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental,” she said.
Molina confirmed that Lahi was killed during the running gun battle that started on May 10 and that his body was among those buried in the encounter site by government troopers.
“His cadaver was found during the clearing operation," he said, adding that five more dead bodies were uncovered by the troopers after days of skirmishes.
High-ranking NPA staff
Apay said that among those killed in the May 10 encounter was a high-ranking regional staff of NCMRC whom she identified as “Nady”.
“I knew her because I directly made reports to her on medical and health matters in GF-4B. She was my direct officer as a medic at the regional level,” she said.
Apay identified Gladys Joy Hiponia as “Nady” through the identification cards shown to her by the Army.
Hiponia was among the female NPA members killed at the start of the running gun battle in the border of Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental on May 10.
Her body was among those retrieved by the Army and brought to a funeral parlor in Gingoog City on May 12.
Hiponia and eight other NPA casualties were buried in a public cemetery in Sitio Lingcomonan, Barangay Binakalan, Gingoog City on May 13.
New life
Both Apay and Wena said they want to change the direction of their lives after yielding to the Army.
Apay said all she wants now is to give her children a better future, especially the one she carries in her womb.
“I do not know the location of my husband now. The last time I saw him was in February this year. I know he will be angry with my decision,” she said, adding that she has realized that the stories propagated by the NPA about the military "are all lies."
“I have proven to myself that what the NPA had told me about the Army is not true. I and Wena are treated well here. They brought us to a doctor to check-up our condition and (that) of our babies,” Apay said.
Molina reiterated his call to the remaining NPA combatants in GF-4A and GF-4B to return to their families and live normal lives.
He added that families of NPA members need them, especially at this time that the country is facing threats of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“No one can surpass the happiness you feel when you are with your family,” Molina said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1103693
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