EX NPA FIGHTERS. Three former fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered with their firearms to the Police Regional Office in Cordillera to avail of the government’s offer for a better future under the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP). The three surrenderers -- ‘Ka Jimmy’, 22, who was recruited at the age of 12; ‘Ka Alice’ now in her mid-20s; and ‘Ka Benjie’ in his 20s -- shared their experiences so the youth would not fall to the false promises of the communist rebels. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- Three former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who were recruited by the terrorist group at a very young age, one of them at 12 years old, have surrendered to the government with hopes that they can still recover their supposed worthy existence lost when they served the rebel organization.
The three who surrendered -- “Ka Jimmy”, 22 years old; “Ka Alice”, mid 20s; and “Ka Benjie” in his 20s -- shared their stories on Monday saying these are lessons that young people must know so that they will not fall to the trap of losing the chance of a good future and end up fighting for the rebel organization at the expense of their life, future, and family.
“Ka Jimmy” said he was indoctrinated in the NPA organization at the tender age of 12. He spent his life growing up to become a man on the mountains with the rebel fighters.
“They were able to convince me because I was very young and had no knowledge. I was innocent about life and ignorant about the reality.” he said in the Ilocano dialect.
He added that he saw the deaths of several comrade fighters and he was lucky enough to have survived and had the opportunity to embrace the government, which he learned is offering a better life than just running with fear of an impending death.
Jimmy said that among the things the rebels trained him to do is to make explosives.
He said that he also served as a political officer as part of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG)-Baggas where he also underwent military training, thus his ability to convince others to their cause.
“I was reintegrated in the community to convince other young people to join the NPA and it is there where I learned of the program of the government to help people like me,” he said.
He said he was afraid because he thought that government forces are bad as has been inculcated in his mind, but his realization and desire to have a life beyond the guns and firefight became more enticing.
“I realized I want to come clean and help my family which is possible with the government which signified willingness to embrace people like me,” Ka Jimmy said in Ilocano.
“Ka Alice” also shared a similar story, which she said made her lose a childhood dream.
She wanted to become a police officer, but such dream went down the drain when she joined the NPA-KLG (Kilusang Larangang Gerilya)-Ampis that operates in the Mountain Province.
She said she was part of the Mountain Province Youth Association as a high school student when she was recruited to the rebel movement in 2018 by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).
“Ka Alice” said she recruited other young people to join the NPA. She owns one of the Carbines surrendered.
For his part, “Ka Benjie” said that he was an out-of-school youth (OSY) who dropped out from high school in 2007 when he attended the “Cordillera Day” celebration in Tocucan, Bontoc, Mountain Province where the life of Macliing Dulag was portrayed.
He met members of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) on the said occasion who talked to him about the ills of the government. He joined the organization and was assigned as a political instructor tasked to recruit young people to become fighters.
He said they enticed the OSYs by telling them of the free education provided by the NPAs.
Ka Benjie said he had been doing such task for the Leonardo Pacsi command of the NPA, until he realized he has a family to look after.
He said that his engagement in the community allowed him to know about the programs of the government.
“The day came when I realized I have a family who cares for me, who I care for. When the police explained to me the programs of the government, it was then that I realized I want to be with my family and have a peaceful life,” “Ka Benjie” said in ilocano.
He realized that the highly publicized E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) and the government’s desire to bring them back to the fold of the law will give him the chance to look after his family.
“I am hopeful that the help the government promises is not only in words but will really be of help to people like me,” he said in ilocano.
In surrendering, Ka Benjie brought with him an M1 .30-caliber carbine rifle.
BGen. R’Win Pagkalinawan, Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCOR) director, on Monday said they are preparing a case against the CPA and other front organizations for illegal trafficking of minors which is tantamount to violation of human rights.
“These are very young people they exploit. They bring them to other places so that they cannot return to their families,” the general said.
At present, the three young surrenderers will be processed under the E-CLIP program of the government so that they can avail of the benefits provided to those who return to the fold of the law.
Once processed and based on the assessment of a joint team from the police and the military, they will receive remuneration for the firearms they surrendered and will be entitled to cash assistance, livelihood assistance, housing, as well as educational assistance.
“The government can help them regain a good future by starting over without the possibility of being on the front-line fighting the government for a lost cause which has cost them their future. Because of their surrender, they will have a chance in life to improve themselves and their future,” Pagkalinawan said.
“The three NPA surrenderers are among the several others who have decided to return to the folds of the law in exchange for a future that the terrorist organization cannot give.
Pagkalinawan said that every week, there are surrenderers who come forward asking help from the government. (
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114643
The three who surrendered -- “Ka Jimmy”, 22 years old; “Ka Alice”, mid 20s; and “Ka Benjie” in his 20s -- shared their stories on Monday saying these are lessons that young people must know so that they will not fall to the trap of losing the chance of a good future and end up fighting for the rebel organization at the expense of their life, future, and family.
“Ka Jimmy” said he was indoctrinated in the NPA organization at the tender age of 12. He spent his life growing up to become a man on the mountains with the rebel fighters.
“They were able to convince me because I was very young and had no knowledge. I was innocent about life and ignorant about the reality.” he said in the Ilocano dialect.
He added that he saw the deaths of several comrade fighters and he was lucky enough to have survived and had the opportunity to embrace the government, which he learned is offering a better life than just running with fear of an impending death.
Jimmy said that among the things the rebels trained him to do is to make explosives.
He said that he also served as a political officer as part of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG)-Baggas where he also underwent military training, thus his ability to convince others to their cause.
“I was reintegrated in the community to convince other young people to join the NPA and it is there where I learned of the program of the government to help people like me,” he said.
He said he was afraid because he thought that government forces are bad as has been inculcated in his mind, but his realization and desire to have a life beyond the guns and firefight became more enticing.
“I realized I want to come clean and help my family which is possible with the government which signified willingness to embrace people like me,” Ka Jimmy said in Ilocano.
“Ka Alice” also shared a similar story, which she said made her lose a childhood dream.
She wanted to become a police officer, but such dream went down the drain when she joined the NPA-KLG (Kilusang Larangang Gerilya)-Ampis that operates in the Mountain Province.
She said she was part of the Mountain Province Youth Association as a high school student when she was recruited to the rebel movement in 2018 by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).
“Ka Alice” said she recruited other young people to join the NPA. She owns one of the Carbines surrendered.
For his part, “Ka Benjie” said that he was an out-of-school youth (OSY) who dropped out from high school in 2007 when he attended the “Cordillera Day” celebration in Tocucan, Bontoc, Mountain Province where the life of Macliing Dulag was portrayed.
He met members of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) on the said occasion who talked to him about the ills of the government. He joined the organization and was assigned as a political instructor tasked to recruit young people to become fighters.
He said they enticed the OSYs by telling them of the free education provided by the NPAs.
Ka Benjie said he had been doing such task for the Leonardo Pacsi command of the NPA, until he realized he has a family to look after.
He said that his engagement in the community allowed him to know about the programs of the government.
“The day came when I realized I have a family who cares for me, who I care for. When the police explained to me the programs of the government, it was then that I realized I want to be with my family and have a peaceful life,” “Ka Benjie” said in ilocano.
He realized that the highly publicized E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) and the government’s desire to bring them back to the fold of the law will give him the chance to look after his family.
“I am hopeful that the help the government promises is not only in words but will really be of help to people like me,” he said in ilocano.
In surrendering, Ka Benjie brought with him an M1 .30-caliber carbine rifle.
BGen. R’Win Pagkalinawan, Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCOR) director, on Monday said they are preparing a case against the CPA and other front organizations for illegal trafficking of minors which is tantamount to violation of human rights.
“These are very young people they exploit. They bring them to other places so that they cannot return to their families,” the general said.
At present, the three young surrenderers will be processed under the E-CLIP program of the government so that they can avail of the benefits provided to those who return to the fold of the law.
Once processed and based on the assessment of a joint team from the police and the military, they will receive remuneration for the firearms they surrendered and will be entitled to cash assistance, livelihood assistance, housing, as well as educational assistance.
“The government can help them regain a good future by starting over without the possibility of being on the front-line fighting the government for a lost cause which has cost them their future. Because of their surrender, they will have a chance in life to improve themselves and their future,” Pagkalinawan said.
“The three NPA surrenderers are among the several others who have decided to return to the folds of the law in exchange for a future that the terrorist organization cannot give.
Pagkalinawan said that every week, there are surrenderers who come forward asking help from the government. (
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114643
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