Alleged rebel yields, cites hunger as reason

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

How could one go on an empty stomach?

In the case of alias Jun, it was enough reason to leave the New People’s Army (NPA) movement which he served for more than four years.

Jun, 29, a member of the Igabon Platoon of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P)-Central Front, surrendered to government authorities on Nov 7, 2020.

Jun told the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion that he, along with some comrades, have endured extreme hunger and hardships while in the armed group.

On top of that, “he came to realize that he’s fighting a lost cause. Walang ideology sa NPA,” Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, 61st IB commander, said.

Batara added that hunger might have been the last straw for Jun but his realizations that he was fighting a meaningless armed struggle had been going on for months leading to his surrender.

Jun is the 7th NPA member who surrendered to the 61st IB this year.

Just like the other surrenderers, he claimed that his conscience has been bothering him because he took part in “terroristic activities” against the government forces and innocent civilians.

Jun also yielded a US Carbine caliber .30 M2, ammunition, and magazines.

Meanwhile, Batara underscored the government’s internal security operations in winning and gaining peace in our area of responsibility.

He also thanked alias Jun “for going back to the folds of the law and eventually deciding to be our partner for peace and development.”

“Still, we call on to other NPA members in the mountains to come down, live a normal life with your families and friends and be a productive member of the community,” he said.

Batara assured that with Jun choosing to embrace peace, he is in the government’s good hands and will be granted benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).