Kalinaw News: NPA Member Who Hopes for a Better Future for His Family; Surrenders in AgNor

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jul 19, 2020): NPA Member Who Hopes for a Better Future for His Family; Surrenders in AgNor

CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan Del Norte- A member of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs), after realizing that the CNTs will only bring on a bad future for his family, decided to surrender to the 29th Infantry (Matatag Fighters) Battalion on July 17, 2020, at Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan Del Norte.

The surrenderee, identified as Arnel, is a married 30-year old resident of Sitio Zapanta Valley, Kicharao, and a member of Sentro de Grabedad (SDG) 16, Guerilla Front Committee (GFC) 16 of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC).

He brought with him one M-16 with a defaced serial number, two magazines for M-16 (1 long and 1 short), and forty rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition.

According to Arnel, “Ang kinabuhi dili sayon alang sa akong pamilya labi na sa ako isip kamagulangang anak nga lalaki sa akong mga ginikanan nga parehong mag-uuma. Gusto nako nga matabangan sila ug mao nang, nadani ako sa NPA nga mosampa sa kanila.”

[Life has not been easy for my family especially to me being the eldest son of my parents who are both farmers. I wanted to help them and so, that’s how the NPA enticed me to join them].

” Pagkahuman niadtong tungura, nakahigayon ko sa pagbaton sa kaugalingon nakong pamilya. Naa na koy duha ka mga anak ug palangga kaayo nako sila. Gusto ko nga hatagan sila og maayong kaugmaon.”

[After some time, I got a chance to have my own family. I now have two kids and I love them so much. I want to give them a good future].


“Niadtong mga panahona, nakadungog ko sa balita gikan sa radyo ug nakita usab nako ang nagkadaiyang mga tarpaulin nga nakapilit sa among lugar bahin sa E-CLIP sa gobyerno. Bisan ang akong mga paryente nga kaniadto mga rebelde nagpamatuod sa ako sa katinuod sa saad sa gobyerno nga makita sa ilang kinabuhi.”

[During those times, I hear news from the radio and have seen various tarpaulin postings in our area about the government’s E-CLIP. Even my relatives who were once rebels did testify to me of the truthfulness of the government’s promise as evident in their lives.]

“Ug busa, sa walay pagduha-duha, nakahukom ko nga mubalik na sa sabakan sa balood. Sa karon, makasiguro nako sa kaugmaon sa akong pamilya, nga layo ra sa akong kahimtang sa dihang kauban pa nako ang NPA.”

[And so, without any hesitation, I decided to surrender. Finally, I’m assured now of my family’s future, which was very far from my situation when I was still with the NPA].

In a statement, Lt. Col.Isagani O. Criste, Commanding Officer of 29IB said, “I’m grateful that now it is personally the members of the CNTs who have come to realize that the organization in which they previously belonged is evil and will never bring them any good.”

“I’m glad as well that the initiatives of my troops and the government through an information operation campaign such as the radio plugging and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) tarpaulin displays in various places finally served their purpose. I hope Arnel and many other rebels will be enlightened and will have the desire to finally surrender,” he said

“And to all other government executives and agencies, I hope that you will never get tired of supporting us in our various endeavors. We value whatever partnerships we have with you and we assure you that we will keep on doing our mandated tasks as part of the President’s Executive Order No. 70 or the Whole-of-Nation-Approach,” Lt Col Criste ended.

The unit with the help of various concerned agencies will be working together to process the requirements of the surrenderee for him to avail of the government’s E-CLIP that includes a complete package of assistance such as livelihood, immediate, medical, housing, firearms remuneration and other benefits for former rebels.

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