2 rebels, 7 militiamen, supporters surrender

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The celebration of the 122nd Independence Day on June 12 in Ayungon, Negros Oriental was highlighted with the surrender of two alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA), seven members of its Yunit Militia, and 40 supporters.

In a press release of the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB), two siblings aged 22 and 17 (names withheld), along with seven militiamen voluntarily submitted themselves to the military troopers at Barangay Mabato.

A .30 caliber M1 Garand rifle was also turned over to the government forces.

One of the rebel returnees, according to the Army, said they were “deceived by the NPA’s propaganda,” adding that they were reportedly made to believe that joining the revolutionary movement was the solution to improve their way of living.

In the same press statement, Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Guzman, 94th IB commander, said that the former rebels used to operate in the hinterlands of Ayungon, Bindoy, and Manjuyod before learning of the presence of 94IB’s Community Support Program (CSP) platoon in their barangay.

The platoon immersed in Barangay Mabato on February 14, 2020 to identify specific issues and concerns to bridge the gap between security and development in the village.

The Army also said that 40 alleged supporters of the NPA surfaced. They were composed of locals in the communities, who allegedly provided financial and logistical support to the NPA.

They also served as the eyes and ears of the rebel group against government forces patrolling in the area while the militiamen in some cases were armed to participate in extortion and other terroristic activities, the 94th IB said.

“Their return to our community frees them from terrorism and makes our 122nd Independence Day even more meaningful,” said Colonel Inocencio  Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde).

“They can now live a normal life and be productive citizens of our society,” he added.

Pasaporte said that they will be enrolled in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) for returning rebels, as well as other programs of the local government, like the Cash for Work Program of the 1st congressional district of the province.

The returnees and the former rebel supporters took an oath of allegiance to the government and burned the flag of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), as they read a resolution declaring the NPA as persona non grata at Barangay Mabato.

Mayor Emarie Agustino thanked them for returning to the folds of the law and for trusting the government.