Kalinaw News: NPA Rebels Crumbling in Northern and Central Luzon

From Kalinaw News (Mar 1, 2021): NPA Rebels Crumbling in Northern and Central Luzon



Camp Aquino, Tarlac City— Northern Luzon Command on Sunday revealed that a total of 235 communist rebels returned to the folds of the law for the month of February 2021. That is 8 to 9 rebel surrenders everyday, a much higher rate compared to the previous month which is 2 to 3 rebels returning to government fold each day.

These surrenders include 10 regular NPA members with 5 of their firearms; 123 Milisya ng Bayan; 2 Sangay sa Partido ng Lokalidad; and 100 party members from the different NPA-affiliated mass organizations in Northern and Central Luzon.

The 235 former rebels are currently undergoing processing of requirements to avail the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP). This is in addition to the 87 rebels who surrendered in January 2021 who have completed the processing of their requirements and are now awaiting for the release of their respective ECLIP grants.

Northern Luzon Command Chief, Lieutenant General Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr said that the growing numbers of rebel surrenders each month indicates the nearing end of the already dwindling forces of the communist terrorists, saying that “The communist terrorists in Northern and Central Luzon are now crumbling and are nearing their total destruction, as more of their members realize the deceptions and manipulative ploys of their leaders who recruited them and use them do further their personal agenda.”

He attributed the mass surrenders to the active support and collaboration of the local government units and the community through the whole-of-nation approach, as he said that “We are elated to know that here in Northern and Central Luzon, the local government units and the community continue to embrace their active role in the fight to totally eradicate the communist terrorists. Indeed, the whole-of-nation approach is making headways in our campaign to end the local communist armed conflict in this part of our country.”

Lieutenant General Burgos ended by reiterating his call to the remaining few members of the communist terrorists to abandon their armed struggle, saying that “There is no better time to lay down their arms and abandon their false ideology but now. The government’s thrust for genuine peace is on its peak. They should grab the opportunity while they can, for the sake of their families who have been longing for peaceful and prosperous lives with them.”

[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/npa-rebels-crumbling-in-northern-and-central-luzon/