Kalinaw News: 22 FRs surrender, turn over 6 firearms

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 26, 2021): 22 FRs surrender, turn over 6 firearms



CAMP DOWNES, Ormoc City, October 25, 2021– The Carigara Integrated Peace and Development Workers Association (CIPDWA) facilitated the mass surrender of twenty-two (22) CPP-NPA-NDF regulars, BOP (Batakang Organisayon sa Partido) members, and mass supporters at Carigara Municipal Hall in a simple ceremony at 10:30 o’clock in the morning. The 22 surrenderers were presented by Ltc Arnold Lozada, the Commanding Officer of 93IB, to the Mayor and Chairman of Carigara Municipal Task Force – ELCAC.

Of the 22 surrenderers, four were CPP-NPA-NDF regulars, four were members of Batakang Organisayon sa Partido (BOP) and 14 were mass supporters coming from the nine hinterland barangays of Carigara, Leyte, namely: Lower Sogod, Hiluctogan, Caghalo, Rubas, San Ignacio, Libo, Canlampay, Tinaguban and Binibihan. The surrenderers likewise turned over four Cal .45 pistols with one magazine each, one Cal .45 Thompson submachine gun, one homemade/modified Cal .30 Springfield rifle, and cpp-npa-ndf produced books and subversive materials.

The mass surrender was a result of the collaborative efforts of the Carigara Integrated Peace and Development Workers Association (CIPDWA), 802Bde, and 93IB. The CIPDWA is composed of former CPP-NPA-NDF regular members, BOP, YM, and mass supporters who are now partners of Municipal Task Force ELCAC of Carigara.

As a gesture of their sincere act of returning to the folds of the law, the surrenderers took their oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines before the Chairperson of Municipal Task Force ELCAC of Carigara, Mayor Eduardo C Ong Sr. in the presence of BGen Zosimo A. Oliveros, Commander, 802Bde, 8ID, Philippine Army, Ltc Arnold Lozada, Commanding Officer, 93IB, PNP personnel from Carigara MPO and Carigara LGU.

According to alias Nonoy (true name withheld for security reasons), a former regular npa member, they decided to surrender because, “nakit-an man gud namon nga tinuod an serbisyo han gobyerno ha amon barangay” (we already felt the sincerity of the government in bringing various services to their barangays). ”Peaceful naman gud an amon panginabuhi, amo nga diri na namon karuyag nga masungpayan pa utro han amon dati nga mga kaupod nga karuyag na liwat magrekober pinaagi ha pag-organisa ha amon kumo mga masa nga parag-suporta ha mga npa ha barangay” (We also experienced a relatively peaceful environment that they want to maintain, hence they no longer want to be reconnected with their former comrades who are now attempting to recover their former mass base supporters), alyas Nonoy added.

Mayor Eduardo C. Ong Sr. extended cash assistance and distributed food packs to the surrenderers. In his message, he stressed that the surrender of 22 of his constituents is a big boost to the peace and order campaign in the municipality. He also pointed out that as the chief executive of the municipality, he is ready to help those who want to surface as he believed that these former NPA members and mass supporters were only deceived and used to support CPP-NPA-NDF terrorist movement. He also exhorted the surrenderers who are now members of the IPDWA to continue to help in convincing their comrades who are still at large and hiding in the mountains to go down and join the mainstream of our society.

Brigadier General Zosimo A Oliveros, Commander of 802Bde, 8ID, PA expressed his thanks and congratulated the 22 surrenderers for abandoning the hard, violent and perilous life imposed upon them by the CPP-NPA-NDF. He also commended the effort of the troops of 93IB and recognized the role played by the MTF-ELCAC of Carigara that paved the way for the successful return of the FRs to mainstream society.

And lastly, he enjoined the 22 FRs to play a key role in the whole of nation approach to win the peace by making the people aware of the true color and character of the duplicitous CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations.

[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]

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