Kalinaw News: 63 Militia ng Bayan and NPA supporters yield in Sultan Kudarat

Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 17, 2020): 63 Militia ng Bayan and NPA supporters yield in Sultan Kudarat



Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City- November 15, 2020A total of sixty-three Militia ng Bayan and NPA Supporters yielded to the 7th Infantry (Tapat) Battalion on Saturday, November 14, 2020, the WestMinCom Commander said.

“Thirty of the surrendered personalities are members of the Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), twelve are members of Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid (PKM), eleven are Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA), and ten are Kabataang Makabayan (KM), all from Barangay Midtungok, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat,” said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

The 63 handed over 38 firearms including twenty-two Homemade 12-gauge Shotguns, seven 5.56mm Pistolized Forty Lights, three Homemade 22 Caliber rifles, four cal. 38 and one Cal. 45 pistols, and one homemade 12-Gauge Pistolized, and several magazines and ammunition to the Community Support Program Teams of 7IB in the same barangay.

“This exemplifies our sincere commitment to sustain the internal security here in Mindanao. Our troops on the ground will continue to work with the local governments and the Mindanaoans in ending terrorism without the use of arms,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. added.

During the custodial debriefing, one of the surrendered personalities revealed how deceptive the organization was. He said that their recruiter taught them to lie, extort, and even deny their tribe.

“Sa una, maguuma kame sa adlaw, NPA sa gabii. Karon tungod sa program ng Army, nalamdagan na kame sa kamatuoran (Before we were farmers during the day and NPA at night. Because of the program of the Army, we are now enlightened with the truth),” he added.Brig. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade said, “This gain reflects the visible and sincere effort of the government in the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 or the Whole-of-Nation approach to end local communist armed conflict in the country.”

“Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, we will keep our momentum to decimate insurgency in our area in partnership with other government agencies, and ensure to protect and welcome those who surface,” Brig. Gen. Galido added. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Romel Valencia, Commanding Officer of the 7IB said, “This mass surrender is a manifestation of a good working system against the terrorist organization, the New People’s Army.

Our Community Support Program (CSP) bridges the gap between vulnerable communities and the government and serves as an avenue for the delivery of basic social services.”

“Currently, we have nine CSP Teams deployed in Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat and we will be deploying more in other municipalities. Also, we continually support the implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program which is spearheaded by the Local Chief Executives within our AOR,” Lt. Col. Valencia added.

JTF Central Commander Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy stated that the 63 will subsequently be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Progam (E-CLIP) in which they will receive Reintegration Assistance amounting to PHP 21,000.00 each, Firearms Remuneration, and Immediate Assistance amounting to PHP 15,000.00 each. “They will be assisted by the different government agencies as they start a new life and reintegrate into the mainstream society,” Maj. Gen. Uy added.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/63-militia-ng-bayan-and-npa-supporters-yield-in-sultan-kudarat/