Ex-rebel laments ‘broken promises, living with terror’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

It was in the last quarter of 2017 when alias Ramon was persuaded by a fellow farmer to join a pulong-pulong allegedly organized by the New People’s Army (NPA).

He attended out of curiosity.  But soon enough, he was persuaded into joining the rebel movement.

For the NPA, the formula was simple: make the people hate the government.

Ramon claimed that they were brainwashed into believing that the government should be violently taken down because of the plight of the formers.

Among the reasons for the rebellions is the high cost of farm implements and equipment over the cheap cost of farm products.

On top of that, the rebels disenchanted Ramon by showing incidents of extra-judicial killings (EJKS) allegedly perpetrated by government forces.

After presenting these alleged government’s failures and inadequacies, the NPAs then shifted to their own promises: owning of farmlands and providing them with livestock.

It didn’t take long for Ramon to decide to join the movement three years back.

As swift as he joined the movement, it only took him several months to realize that he was duped into entering a movement with no ideology.

“I saw how my former comrades harassed government forces and participate in activities that are anti-people,” Ramon said in vernacular shortly after he surrendered to members of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion on Friday, November 20.

The 30-year old former rebel was a member of Sibat Platoon of the Komiteng Rehiyon – Panay (KR-P)’s Southern Front.

He also surrendered a caliber .45 Colt pistol with a magazine loaded with ammunition and a homemade 12-gauge shotgun with five ammunition.

Ramon narrated that it was around mid-2018 when he decided to “temporarily” leave the movement and be with his family.

“My family didn’t allow me to go back anymore,” he said.

His platoon commander allowed him to lay low on one condition: he would be active in protest actions and organizing of masses at the hinterlands.

Ramon also lambasted the NPA for recruiting minors, which he knew was a grave violation.

Ramon said he got jaded because even those allies of the NPAs before also chose to lay low and surrender.

“And that’s what I think was the proper thing to do,” Ramon told 61st IB soldiers.

For Mayor Roquito Tacsagon of Tubungan, Iloilo, Ramon’s action could be the best decision of his life.

“Nothing beats the feeling of going back to the folds of the law and live a normal life with your family,” Tacsagon said, as he assured that the local government of Tubungan will help Ramon start a new life and make him a productive member of the community.

He said that the LGU has a lot of programs intended for former rebels.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, 61st IB commander, said that what happened to Ramon only showed that the NPA members have realized that their armed struggle has tremendously created a miserable effect on the country’s peace and progress.

“They now prefer to live peacefully with their family. To the remaining members of the NPA, you have to bear in mind that fighting with our government can never be the solution to the problem. We should work hand in hand for a better society, without terror and disunity. Rest assured we are always open to give equal opportunities to those who want to embrace peace,” he said.

Batara also gave assurance that Ramon could avail of the benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).