Kalinaw News: Gov’t collaborates in enlightenment against NPAs Deception in SurNor

From Kalinaw News (Feb 26, 2021): Gov’t collaborates in enlightenment against NPAs Deception in SurNor



KITCHARAO, Agusan del Norte- As part of the Information and Education Campaign (IEC) of the Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management Cluster of the National Management Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the 29th Infantry (Matatag Fighters) Battalion under the 901st Infantry (Fight ‘Em) Brigade in collaboration with the Local Government of Surigao City headed by Hon. Ernesto “Estong” Matugas Jr., the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the TESDA leads the conduct of Information Caravan on February 24, 2021, to enlighten the Surigaonons against the deceitful tactics of NPA in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.

Likewise, said activity was also attended by BGen George L Banzon, Commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade; Surigao Del Norte Governor, Hon. Francisco “Lalo” T. Matugas together with the Sangguniang Panglungsod; various Punong Barangays and their respective Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairs; some business owners and City employees.

During the event, TESDA discussed various programs and training that the office has been providing and is willing to offer for those who will surrender. Also, NICA personnel tackled the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 70, NPA’s process of recruitment, and the Anti-Terrorism Act. The discussion was then supplemented with the testimony of alias @No name and his wife alias @Wella, both former rebels who have shared their awful experiences with the CNTs and the mighty change that had happened in their lives soon after they surrendered to the government.

Mayor Ernesto Matugas Jr. explained, “This gathering is made to inform everyone of what is EO70 that aims to break the cycle of insurgency in our community and to quell the communist movement and their roots. We all have individual roles and I am hoping that you will know the importance of each and everyone for this program (EO 70) in order to be successful and effective in ending the fight against communism.”

Alias @No Name shared in his testimony,”Ining mga NPA, mao ni sila ang gahatag ug problema sa atoa.Sila gahimo ra ug bakak para makapangilad ug makadaut ug kinabuhi sa laing tao ilabi na sa mga kabatan-onan.” (NPA is the one who gives burden to us. They only makes lies just to deceive and destroy the lives of the people especially of the youth.)

Moreover, alias @Wella also testified,”Pagsurrender nako, ayha pako nakasinati ug kabag-ohan sa akong kinabuhi. Makaingon gyud ko nga naa ko sa saktong dalan, lahi sa kinabuhi nga akong nasinatian ug nabatyagan sauna samtang naa pako galihok sa bukid.” (After I surrendered, I experienced drastic changes. I can say that I am on the right path, different from the life that I have lived before when I was still moving in the mountains.)

LtCol. Aristotle F Antonio, Acting Commanding Officer of 29IB, boldly said in his statement, “As your Army, we are ever willing to pay with our own lives the prize it requires to win the peace; but are you also willing to come and support us? This war against insurgency is not just ours alone, but rather it is our fight. Nonetheless, we do not require you to take up arms as well, but rather your strong commitment to abandon any support that you’re giving from our awful enemy is what we need. Peace awaits and it will come but only to those who deserve it.”

[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]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/govt-collaborates-in-enlightenment-against-npas-deception-in-surnor/