Posted to the Kalinaw News (Oct 23, 2020): Exhaustion and hunger urge 6 NPA and militia to surrender via Army unit
Talacogon, Agusan del Sur – Fatigue and food scarcity had pushed the six (6) members of the Communist Terrorist New People`s Army (NPA) and Militia, to lay down their arms and surrendered to the 26th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, today, October 23, 2020.
The surrender of six (6) NPA members consists of four (4) regulars and two (2) militias were the result of the intensified military offensive against them resulting in scarcity of food and fatigue in order to evade the presence of military forces. Anxious for their life and security, the former rebels decided to surrender and leave the terrorist movement bringing along with them their firearms.
In an interview, alias “Ben”, one of the former rebels and squad leader of Squad 2, Platoon 1, of SDG COMPAQ, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC), burst into tears as he reminisces his troubled life long experience in the armed group and loneliness for being far from his family. “Lisod kaayo among kahimtang sa sulod tungod sa amung pagpaningkamot nga makaikyas sa mga kasundaluhan nga naggukod sa amua. Wala kami tarong tulog ug kaon ug dili pud me makaduol sa amung mga kanhi masa sa pagpangayo ug tabang tungod nga mahadlok sila nga madamay sa amung gipangbuhat”, he said.
Alias “Ben” also expressed his anger towards NPA leadership cursing them that the promised of being equal in the society and inside the armed group as their campaign propaganda to urge more recruits are untrue. “Sa sulod sa unom katuig ug tulo kabulan nga naglihok ako sa armado, wala gyuy pag asenso sa akong kinabuhi sama sa ilahang gisaad nga kaharuhay nga matagamtagaman kung kami mag apil ug magsuporta sa kumonistang kalihukan. Ug ang kapait, pilion lang nila paghatag ug suporta ang mga pamilya sa among mga kadagkuan, ug kami nga ubos sa ilaha, pulos lang pasalig ang ilang ihatag”, he added.
“Busa gina awhag ko ang tanan nakung kanhi kaubanan nga anaa pa sa kalihukan sa pag surrender na mintras dili pa ulahi ang tanan, ang atong gobyerno sa nasud andam mutabang kanato alang sa pagsugod sa bag-ong kinabuhi nga gawasnon uban ang atong pamilya”,alias “Ben” further stated.
The six (6) Former Rebels are currently undergoing custodial debriefing and various types of assessment and documentation prior enrollment to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government where the Former Rebels will be assisted during their reintegration and starting anew in their community.
Meanwhile, Lt.Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce, 26IB Commanding Officer, congratulates the six (6) Former Rebels on their decision to surrender. “I am glad that these people finally realized the futility of their distorted ideology. They have been experiencing hardships inside the armed group. Gladly, they manage to escape and make their way out from their complicated and messy life inside the terrorist movement. May their experiences urged the remaining members of NPA to go back to mainstream society and live a peaceful life with their family just like what the six (6) of their former comrades have done”, he said.
Lt. Col. Goce also appeals to other remaining members of NPA. “The government is committed in giving its full potential to assist any of you in your transition in going back to mainstream society as it was undertaken in the implementation of EO70 the “whole of nation approach”. But if you were hesitant to the law, I guarantee to all of you that the Army will not hesitate and always ready to use its force against peace spoilers and other threat groups who will continue to spouse terrorism, ” he ended.
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