206 Reds front group members surrender, reject NPA

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 1, 2022): 206 Reds front group members surrender, reject NPA (By Che Palicte)

BURNING OF RED FLAGS. Former rebels and front members of the New People's Army (NPA) lead the burning of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front flag on Monday (Feb. 28, 2022) at the Balimba Hills, Sitio JBL, Barangay Sto. Niño in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. Around 206 indigenous peoples who were members of various NPA front groups pledged allegiance to the government and have rejected the communist armed group in their communities. (PNA photo by Che Palicte)

TALAINGOD, Davao del Norte – A total of 206 indigenous peoples (IPs) here who were members of various New People’s Army (NPA) front groups surrendered and declared "pagsalikway" or rejection of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA on Monday in a ceremony at the Balimba Hills, Sitio JBL, Barangay Sto. Niño in this town.

The surrenderers included eight members of the NPA Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit (SRGU)/Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) 5; Bakwits - five; Milisyang Bayan (MB) – six; Komiteng Rebolusyonaryo sa Munisipal (KRM) - four, Komiteng Rebolusyonaryo sa Baryo (KRB) – 168, and Salugpungan teachers and students - 15.

Apart from signing the oath of allegiance to the government, the group also burned the replica of the NPA flag that signified their abandonment of the dismantled communist organization in the province.

In an interview, Datu Lisuro Losindo, a former rebel who was among the surrenderers, thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for helping them get back on their feet and return to the folds of the law.

Since joining the communist organization five years ago, he said it was only during the Duterte administration that he and his relatives decided to surrender because they were assured of a peaceful and normal life.

“Although I still have my grandchildren left in the mountains, I know that they will also come forward. I also urge others to do the same and let us go back to the government,” Losindo said in the vernacular.

Meanwhile, Ariane Jane Ramos alias Marikit, former secretary of the NPA Guerrilla Front (GF) 55, SRC 5 - Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC), said the mass surrender has a huge impact on the communist group as they have lost their mass bases.

“This is what we call the physical barrier wherein the CPP saw that the people were objectively rejecting them and that they are willing to accept the government’s interventions,” she said.

While the people of Talaingod suffered 28 years at the hands of the NPA, she said it has come to an end and they will now live peacefully with their families.

“Let us allow the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the government to help us. They have opened their doors to us,” she added.

Ramos also urged the surrenderers to put in their hearts their total commitment to reject the CPP-NPA and avoid their false promises.

Col. Consolito Yecla, the Army’s 1003rd Brigade commander, emphasized that the surrenderers turning to the government’s fold was a historic event for Talaingod.

“Since the NPA entered this town in 1993, a lot of IPs suffer from their deceptions as they were instilled with wrong ideology. Now, it has ended,” he said.

Yecla recounted that the first to occupy the town was the NPA SRC 5 which he observed was the most advanced rebel sub-region group for they were able to create the Bakwits, KRM, and Salugpungan.

The SRC 5 was dismantled after 12 of its mostly top-ranking leaders surrendered on January 13.

The surrenderers included Ida Marie Montero alias Mandy, the secretary, finance officer, and member of Komiteng Tagapagpaganap/Komiteng Kalihiman; Renato Lubguban, deputy secretary and commanding officer of the Sub-Regional Operational Command; Lito Taluwa, acting commanding officer; Enrico Caramat, political instructor; and Rudy Saballa, military adviser and former commanding officer of the dismantled Guerrilla Front 56.

“Their dismantling [SRC 5] was a huge accomplishment and we thanked the battalion commanders for their efforts,” he said.

Yecla assured that they will continue to protect the town as they are being supported by former rebels like alias Marikit.

“You don’t have to worry, we will defend you and your ancestral domains. All we are asking is your cooperation and total rejection of the communist group,” he said.

Governor Edwin Jubahib, meanwhile, thanked the surrenderers for their courage and trust in the government.

He vowed to support the surrenderers, especially on the livelihood and education of their children.

“Our military troops did everything to make Talaingod peaceful and free from the insurgency. Rest assured that the provincial government will pour projects in this town, particularly farm-to-market roads, schools, and sitio electrification,” Jubahib said.

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.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168752