CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City, Samar, July 18 -- Two self-confessed members of the communist New People's Army (NPA) on Wednesday, July 15, formally and voluntarily returned to the fold of the law through the efforts of Mayor Joaquin R. Elizalde of the Municipality of San Jose de Buan in Samar.
About 10 o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, Mayor Elizalde turned over to the 87th Infantry (Hinirang) Battalion, 8ID, PA at its headquarters in Poblacion 2, San Jose de Buan a certain Honorio de Asis Dacles alias Uno and one Sanny Labong Maestre alias Gortiyo.
Dacles turned over one unit of US M14 rifle with serial number 1568702, two magazines and 30 rounds of 7.62mm ball ammunition while Maestre yield one unit of Caliber .30 US M1 Garand rifle with serial number 3558254, nine clips for Cal. .30 ammunition and 72 rounds of Cal. .30 ball ammunition.
Dacles and Maestre admitted to be members of the Yunit Milisya (YM) also known as Milisya ng Bayan (MB ) in Barangay Gusa, San Jose de Buan of the Central Front Samar 1 (CFS1), Sub-Regional Command Browser, Regional Operational Command, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, CPP-NPA.
In a simple program, Mayor Elizalde formally received the surrendered firearms. In turn, the town chief executive extended initial financial assistance to the families of the former rebels.
Authorities believe that more NPA will surrender and more communist supporters in the hinterland town of San Jose De Buan will withdraw their support from the CPP-NPA-NDF now that Mayor Elizalde is personally speaking to known and covert NPA members and supporters.
Townfolks revealad that the communist terrorists are demanding and extracting money from the people, businessmen and even government officials in the form of Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri or simply known as RBKU which authorities said is simple extortion or "Kotong."
In his message, Mayor Elizalde appealed to the NPA to embrace peace. "We call on members of the NPA still hiding in the hinterlands of San Jose de Buan and elsewhere to come down in peace, lay down your arms and return to the fold of the law while there is still time and opportunity," the mayor said.
There is an array of government financial assistance programs waiting for those NPA members who would embrace peace. I am personally committed to provide P50,000 as cash assistance to every NPA who will surrender high powered firearms ," the mayor emphasized.
As mandated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Mayor Elizalde is leading the ongoing Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) in most of the town's 14 villages with the participation of soldiers as part of the peace and development efforts of the government. (87IB, 8ID PA)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1047944
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