1,023 guerillas lay down arms in 2020 in CL

From the Manila Standard (Jan 12, 2021): 1,023 guerillas lay down arms in 2020 in CL (By Jess Malabanan)

Camp Olivas, Pampanga—Some 1,023 suspected communist guerillas, mostly supporters and some holding sensitive positions in the underground movement, have returned to the fold of the law in separate occasions in Central Luzon from January to December last year, the Police Regional Office 3 announced Tuesday.

This developed as PRO3 director BGen Valeriano De Leon appealed to families of New People’s Army (NPA) members to encourage their relatives to surrender and embrace the government through the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ALCAC) programs.

De Leon said the government is calling on both active and former members of the NPA to surrender and start a new life.

“I’m appealing to the families of NPA rebels to encourage their relatives to lay down their arms and start their lives anew this New Year. Our government has several programs to retool you so that you could all become even more productive members of our society,” said De Leon in a statement.

On Monday, four communist guerillas surrendered to authorities in Aurora province bringing to 12 the number of NPA rebels who returned to the fold in a span of two weeks, the Public Information Office (PIO) stated.


The rebels were identified thru their aliases Edwin, Edith, Marvin and Tony, all members of Militiang Bayan and residents of Dipaculao, Aurora.


Last week, a seven-man team of guerillas operating in Tarlac- Zambales areas voluntarily submitted themselves to the local police in Mayantoc, Tarlac. They were processed and took their oath of allegiance before they were released and sent home.

De Leon said the RT-ELCAC is gaining headway with the huge number of supporters and guerillas who have availed of the government offer to achieve lasting peace as envisioned in the program.

The RT-ELCAC was created under Executive Order 70 which calls for a nationwide approach in attaining sustainable peace and creating a regional task force to end local communist armed conflict by adopting the National Peace Framework.

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