Four Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) fighters surrendered to Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade units in Zamboanga del Norte on August 7, 2020.
The four CNTs who surrendered to 97th Infantry Battalion, 44th Infantry Battalion and 42nd Infantry Battalion were identified as alias MARKY – Squad Leader, alias AIAI – Medic, alias JURY – Medic, and alias JERWIN – Supply, all members of the HQ KALAW, Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC), the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) unit that clashed with the government troops recently.
In an initial interview, alias JERWIN said in local dialect that they have opted to surrender after hearing that their wounded comrades rescued by the Army was treated well and given immediate medical attention.
“We heard that our wounded comrade, alias JEKJEK, that we abandoned after an encounter last August 5, and our wounded leader, alias PEEWEE and his wife, were all treated humanely by the soldiers and were given immediate medical care,” alias JERWIN said.
“We asked help from our fellow Subanen to assist us get in touch with the Army to signify our intent to surrender, because we were also already exhausted and hungry from running away,” he added.
According to Lt. Col. Manaros M Boransing, Commanding Officer, 97th IB, “They used the situation where they were separated into a smaller groups to escape and asked help from the locals in the area to inform our soldiers on the ground where they were hiding”.
“These personalities, including those who were rescued, were high-value targets, and occupied significant positions in their unit that can help us in our military operations,” Lt. Col. Boransing added.
Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, Commanding Officer, 44th IB, who also facilitated one of the surrenderors stated that. “Their surrender is vital in our operations because they are leading fighters and we hoped that they can encourage all of them to surrender”.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, Commander, 102nd Infantry Brigade stressed that the influx of surrenders were results of the series of encounters that transpired in Barangay Tinuyop, Leon B Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte last August 5 and 6.
“I commend the quick response of the different units on the ground for assisting these former rebels to return to the folds of law and eventually, their return later to their respective families who have been anxiously waiting for several years,” said Brig. Gen. Nicolas.
“If this trend continues, we can say that the eventual defeat of HQ Kalaw will be possible, if more of its members surrenders to the government,” Brig. Gen. Nicolas added.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Gene Ponio, Commander, 1st Infantry Division, enjoined the different stakeholders through the Local Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to continue the initiatives started despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
“We understand that we are focused in defeating the threat on COVID-19 but let us also continue what we have started for the complete defeat of the Communist NPA in Western Mindanao,” Maj. Gen. Ponio said.
“We are now nearing our goal and we need the full cooperation and active participation of all stakeholders including the local populace to attain lasting peace and promote development in the region,” Maj. Gen. Ponio added.
The former rebels will be processed under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program before they will be reintegrated to the mainstream society.
The four CNTs who surrendered to 97th Infantry Battalion, 44th Infantry Battalion and 42nd Infantry Battalion were identified as alias MARKY – Squad Leader, alias AIAI – Medic, alias JURY – Medic, and alias JERWIN – Supply, all members of the HQ KALAW, Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC), the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) unit that clashed with the government troops recently.
In an initial interview, alias JERWIN said in local dialect that they have opted to surrender after hearing that their wounded comrades rescued by the Army was treated well and given immediate medical attention.
“We heard that our wounded comrade, alias JEKJEK, that we abandoned after an encounter last August 5, and our wounded leader, alias PEEWEE and his wife, were all treated humanely by the soldiers and were given immediate medical care,” alias JERWIN said.
“We asked help from our fellow Subanen to assist us get in touch with the Army to signify our intent to surrender, because we were also already exhausted and hungry from running away,” he added.
According to Lt. Col. Manaros M Boransing, Commanding Officer, 97th IB, “They used the situation where they were separated into a smaller groups to escape and asked help from the locals in the area to inform our soldiers on the ground where they were hiding”.
“These personalities, including those who were rescued, were high-value targets, and occupied significant positions in their unit that can help us in our military operations,” Lt. Col. Boransing added.
Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, Commanding Officer, 44th IB, who also facilitated one of the surrenderors stated that. “Their surrender is vital in our operations because they are leading fighters and we hoped that they can encourage all of them to surrender”.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, Commander, 102nd Infantry Brigade stressed that the influx of surrenders were results of the series of encounters that transpired in Barangay Tinuyop, Leon B Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte last August 5 and 6.
“I commend the quick response of the different units on the ground for assisting these former rebels to return to the folds of law and eventually, their return later to their respective families who have been anxiously waiting for several years,” said Brig. Gen. Nicolas.
“If this trend continues, we can say that the eventual defeat of HQ Kalaw will be possible, if more of its members surrenders to the government,” Brig. Gen. Nicolas added.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Gene Ponio, Commander, 1st Infantry Division, enjoined the different stakeholders through the Local Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to continue the initiatives started despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
“We understand that we are focused in defeating the threat on COVID-19 but let us also continue what we have started for the complete defeat of the Communist NPA in Western Mindanao,” Maj. Gen. Ponio said.
“We are now nearing our goal and we need the full cooperation and active participation of all stakeholders including the local populace to attain lasting peace and promote development in the region,” Maj. Gen. Ponio added.
The former rebels will be processed under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program before they will be reintegrated to the mainstream society.
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
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