DAVAO CITY -- The continued hardship in the communist New People’s Army (NPA) prompted a couple to surrender with their firearms to the troops of the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion.
Capt. Mc Gary Dida, civil-military operations (CMO) officer of the 1002nd infantry brigade, said Bonio Dawa, 45 and his wife Ligaya Dawa, 40, have been operating in Davao Occidental. Both are residents of Sitio Kiapok, Barangay Little Baguio, Davao Occidental.
Bonio said he was tired of the false promises of the NPA that their family will be given financial support and a land to till.
The Dawas are only among those who surrendered to the military for the past months.
Since January 2018, the 73rd IB received a total of 13 assorted high-powered firearms from 16 NPA surrenderers.
“With our intensive security operations and continuous collaboration to our Local Government Units and other stakeholders, we can align our efforts in attaining a peaceful and conflict resilient communities within our area of operation," said Lt. Col. Marion T. Angcao, the commander of the 73rd IB.
The 73rd IB is set to present the former rebels to the local government of Davao Occidental for immediate assistance and enrolment to the government’s CLIP (Comprehensive Local Integration Program).
Angcao said they will be provided with livelihood assistance and additional cash assistance for their surrendered firearm to help them start a new and peaceful life.
"The brigade is always open for NPA who are willing to lay down their firearms, go back to the folds of law and enjoy the peaceful life, the government has a program that will provide livelihood assistance to help them start a living," said Col. Roberto Ancan, the commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade. (Rhoda Grace Saron/PNA)
