Army expects more rebel to yield

THE Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is looking forward to more rebel surrenderees as government troops intensify the campaign against insurgency.

Lieutenant Colonel Ericson Rosana, 3ID’s assistant chief of staff for Civil Military Operation, said the overwhelming support of different stakeholders in Panay Island would be a big factor for rebels in laying down their arms.

In several instances, “rebels were forced to surrender due to our intensified combat operations coupled with the social pressure from various sectors,” Rosana said.

Also, the dwindling number of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the demoralization within their organization due to alleged deceptions, false promises, and, most of all, internal corruption are also significant factors of the growing number of surrenderees, Rosana said.

From January 2018 to present, the 3rdID reported 159 rebel surrenderees in its areas of operation.

Sixty-three surrenderees, all of whom are already validated, are from Panay Island, more particularly in Capiz province.

In 2018, the 61st Infantry Battalion facilitated the surrender of 59 Militia ng Bayan and three regular NPA members.

Last week, another former rebel from Cuartero town received P10,000 from the Capiz local government unit.

Rosana said that the 302nd Infantry Battalion also facilitated the surrender of 77 rebels from Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.

Thirty surrenderees already received an immediate assistance.

In Negros Island, there were 19 surrenderees, wherein 8 received already received an initial assistance.

Rosana said that other assistance and benefits are being processed for the surrenderees under the Enhanced – Comprehensive Local Integration Meeting Program (E-CLIP).

“We called on the remaining members of the communist group to lay down their arms, back to the mainstream society, and avail of the E-CLIP for them to start a new life with their family,” Rosana said.