Starved NPA recruit surrenders to Army troops

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 20, 2020): Starved NPA recruit surrenders to Army troops (By Jemin B. Guillermo)

ILOILO CITY, May 20 (PIA)--Unbearable hunger in the mountains forced another New People’s Army (NPA)-recruit involved in Cabalaunan clash in Miagao, Iloilo to surrender to the Army’s 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion on May 17, 2020.

In a press release from the 61st Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, 61IB Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara identified the surrenderer as alias “Dodot,” 19 years old from Sibalom, Antique, and a member of Suyak (SDG) Platoon, Southern Front, KR-Panay.

Alias “Dodot” is the second surrenderer of the 61IB who has an involvement in the said clash.

The first surrender is alias “Ken,” a 20 year-old new recruit of the CNTs’ Suyak Platoon, who yielded to the Battalion after surviving the encounter at Sitio Anoy, Barangay Cabalaunan, Miagao, Iloilo last April 18, 2020, the media release said.

Dodot claimed that he and his friends were invited by certain “Alas” to wander in the forest, which they immediately accepted, thinking that they will go for an adventure in the mountains of Antique.

They found out later that they are with the group of the NPAs when they were indoctrinated about the armed revolution, the press report noted.

Dodot also admitted that he was in the area when the clash transpired between the troops of the 61IB and members of the communist-terrorist group at Sitio Anoy. After the said encounter, Dodot decided to run away and return to home.

Upon seeing her son’s situation, Dodot’s mother then asked for help from their Barangay Officials to assist them in coming to the headquarters of 61IB.

“The consecutive surrender of these NPAs clearly shows the futility of armed struggle. Those who waged this senseless fight are now fully aware that there is no such thing as ‘life’ inside the movement; only hell and agony,” Batara said.

Batara also encouraged the remaining members of the communist-terrorist group to surrender just like what their comrade did.

“Dodot’s resolve to surrender is the right thing to do especially during this tough time where home is still the best refuge to stay away from the COVID-19. You can do the same to regain your future and be with your family again,” he said. (JBG/ 2Lt. Sarah Mae S. Cerna, 61IB Acting CMO)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1042364