Kalinaw News: CNTs surrender with firearms to the government

Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 29, 2021): CNTs surrender with firearms to the government



CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela- Twenty-seven Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) laid down 23 firearms as they abandoned the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and pledged allegiance to the government during a press conference held in Bangag, Lal-lo, Cagayan on November 26, 2021.

Through the assistance of the 17th Infantry Battalion, 77th Infantry Battalion, Marine Battalion Landing Team-10, and the 501st Infantry Brigade, the said CNTs found their way back to the pillars of the government. They surrender 23 firearms composed of seven M16 A1 rifles, three US Carbine, two M653, one M14, one homemade cal. 30, one M11, five homemade shotguns, one cal. 30 M2 carbine rifle, one cal. 9mm pistol, one cal. 22 pistol, and 10 rounds ammunition of cal. 30.

The Former Rebels denounced the atrocities of the CTG as they burned the flags of the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front. They further pledged their support to the government in ending the local communist armed conflict.

In his testimony, alias Bimbo shared his unfortunate situation inside the terrorist group that made him decide to withdrew his support. “Mahirap ang buhay ng NPA, walang makain at wala kang maayos na tulugan. Higit sa lahat hindi ko pa nakakasama ang aking pamilya. Dun ko napatunayan na wala palang kabuluhan ang ipinaglalaban ng mga NPA. Ginagamit lang pala kami para sa mga pansariling interes ng mga nakakataas sa amin. Ngayon, gusto ko ng magbagong buhay at mamuhay ng malaya kasama ang aking pamilya.”

“In close coordination with the PNP, we will provide security for them. We will see to it that they will not be isolated. That’s why we bring them in halfway houses while they process their benefits” BGen Steve D Crespillo, Commander of 501st Infantry Brigade said when asked about the security and safety of the Former Rebels.

He then thanked the Former Rebels for abandoning the terrorist group. “Nagpapasalamat ako at naisipan niyong magbalik-loob sa ating pamahalaan. Matagal na itong CTG na kumakalaban sa ating gobyerno at wala namang nangyayaring maganda. Sama-sama tayong hikayatin ang mga natitira pang nasa loob ng teroristang grupo upang maging maayos din ang kanilang pamumuhay at upang magkaroon na ng kapayapaan at pag unlad dito sa probinsya ng Cagayan.”

Moreover, Cagayan Governor Manuel N Mamba assured the assistance of the Provincial Government to the Former Rebels to help them in their reintegration. He said that as of the moment, there are 38 former rebels employed in the Provincial Government.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed food packs to the Former Rebels.

MGen Laurence E Mina, Commander of 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army said that the terrorist group in the province of Cagayan is nearing its eventual downfall. “We can now foresee the future without insurgency. Every community will enjoy peace and progress. I congratulate the joint effort of the 17IB, 77IB, MBLT-10, 501IBde, PRO 2, LGUs, Government Agencies and every Cagayano for this successful mass surrender of CNTs. This is a very significant accomplishment in our campaign to end local communist armed conflict.”

[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/cnts-surrender-with-firearms-to-the-government/

200 ex-rebels receive help

Posted to the Mindanao Times (Nov 28, 2921): 200 ex-rebels receive help (BY RHODA GRACE SARON)

Photo courtesy of 48th Infantry Battalion

ABOUT 200 former members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) received P2.4 million in livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Pantukan, Davao de Oro on Friday.

Second Lieutenant Dyna Sheen Bernaldez, acting civil-military operations officer of 48th Infantry Battalion, said those who received the assistance were members of people’s organizations who were former rebels or members of the underground mass organization in some barangays of the town.

Turning over the assistance was Pantukan Mayor Roberto M. Yugo.

The assistance was part of the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, a community-based program for poor, vulnerable, and marginalized communities to capacitate them.

Lt Col. Enrrique Rafael, commanding officer of the battalion, thanked the government agencies responsible for the help as this is necessary in reviving the livelihood activities fo the beneficiaries.

“These monetary grants will be utilized as capital seed to achieve positive livelihood outcomes especially that these people belonged to Conflict-Affected Areas (CAAs) and longed for Government services,” said Rafael as most of the beneficiaries surrendered as early as 10 years ago.

https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/2021/11/29/200-ex-rebels-receive-help/

RTF6-ELCAC dares senatorial bet to condemn CPP-NPA

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 29, 2021): RTF6-ELCAC dares senatorial bet to condemn CPP-NPA (By Perla Lena)

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales (PNA File photo)

The Western Visayas Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF6-ELCAC) on Monday condemned the “malicious and irresponsible verbal tirade” of senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares against the national agency.

RTF6-ELCAC spokesperson and Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales said Colmenares has no idea on the nature and functions of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Colmenaras labeled the NTF –ELCAC as "militarista, marahas, at kontra mamamayan" (militarized, violent, and anti-people), to which Gonzales said he exactly described the nature of communist groups.

“Neri Colmenares should have known that the NTF-ELCAC is responsible for bringing much-needed infrastructure and basic social services to conflict-affected areas thru the Barangay Development Program under the guiding principles of the whole of nation approach and good governance,” Gonzales said in a statement.

He added that more than 20,000 former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and Militia ng Bayan, mass base supporters, and members of their legal front organizations have benefited from the Task Force Balik Loob (Return to Government) program and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which both provide financial and livelihood aid to surrenderers.

Businesses and other industries have been advised to stop giving in to the extortion activities of the CPP-NPA.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council's Counter-Terrorism Financing is working to cut off local and foreign funding from communist terrorist groups and their affiliates.

Gonzales said the national task force was established to put an end to the insurgency by addressing the root causes.

“The statements of Neri Colmenares are nothing more than the standard propaganda attack lines of groups that have been established to perpetually criticize and malign the government. However, the gains made by the NTF-ELCAC on the war for peace speak for themselves,” Gonzales added.

Gonzales challenged the sincerity of Colmenares, who claimed to aspire peace for the country, by condemning the atrocities of the CPP-NPA.

He also expressed appreciation to Vice President Leni Robredo for affirming the vital role of the NTF-ELCAC, which was created via Executive Order No. 70 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2018.

“At least, there is no more need for us to sit down in a dialogue because you realized that the NTF-ELCAC is indeed a whole of nation approach that addresses the root causes of the communist insurgency,” Gonzales said.

He added, though, that Robredo's statement can be further concretized if she condemns, in the strongest words possible, all the atrocities committed by the CPP-NPA and those providing them support.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1161231

AFP medical teams roll out 3-day vax drive in remote areas

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 29, 2021): AFP medical teams roll out 3-day vax drive in remote areas (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Photo courtesy of NTF Against Covid-19

Medical teams of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are tasked to vaccinate residents in the so-called geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAS) for the three-day national vaccination days from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.

In a radio interview Sunday, Col. Fatima Claire Navarro, AFP Surgeon General, said 25 medical teams in various AFP unified commands would be deployed, apart from the 37 other teams tasked to provide manpower support to civilian medical units.

"Naitalaga sa amin na maipaabot ang bakuna sa ating mga kababayan na nasa lugar na tinatawag nating 'GIDAS' or geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas 'yan nga 'yung mga isla, kabundukan, 'yun pong kumunidad ng ating mga IPs (indigenous peoples) (We are assigned to deploy the vaccines to fellow Filipinos residing in 'GIDAS' or those living in islands, mountainous areas, and communities of our IPs)," she said.

Navarro said the teams would also haul medical supplies and materials for use in the vaccination campaign.

The national vaccination days, dubbed as “Bayanihan Bakunahan,” aims to administer 9 million jabs or a daily national throughput target of 3 million doses.

To achieve the goal of completely inoculating 54 million Filipinos by year-end, the government has set another three-day inoculation drive from Dec. 15 to 17.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1161202

All AFP transport assets on stand-by for vax support missions

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 29, 2021): All AFP transport assets on stand-by for vax support missions (By Priam Nepomuceno)

File photo

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has placed all available transport assets, including its aircraft, on alert for possible transport missions in support of the three-day national mass vaccination against Covid-19 which kicked off on Monday.

"We have also put on alert our equipment, we have our air assets, ang ating mga kagamitan (all our assets) for transport of the vaccines are being readied so that when needed, agad agad natin silang madeploy (they can be deployed immediately)," said AFP chief, Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, during the "Laging Handa" interview.

Aside from their transport assets, the AFP also deployed military personnel to serve as liaison officers to help in the vaccination campaign in different parts of the country.

"Meron tayong (We have) liaison teams in the different areas of the country, we have mobilized our personnel from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force coordinating with the other agencies of government para maimplement talaga natin yung pagbakuna ng ating mga kababayan (so that vaccination of our fellow Filipinos will be implemented immediately)," he added.

Centino also said the AFP has formed so-called vaccine action teams that can be deployed immediately in areas they are needed.

As this developed, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said all police camps in the Metropolis are open as venues for vaccination. This is in addition to the current 213 vaccination sites all over Metro Manila.

He assured that all NCRPO camps are safe and secure.

"We will continue to support the government’s vaccination program in order for our citizens to be protected from the Covid-19 in any way possible. Rest assured that the camps will be the safest vaccination sites where PNP personnel are not only prepared for any threats but also fully compliant with safety standards and protocols," Danao said.

As of November 25, some 97.38 percent or 23,149 NCRPO personnel have been fully vaccinated while 1.86 percent or 441 have already received their first dose.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1161219