CAMP GEN. MATEO CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal -- Two more members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and five couriers surrendered to the Army’s 4th Infantry Battalion (4IB) and local police in Occidental Mindoro on Friday.
In a report on Sunday, Lt. Col. Dennis C. Gutierrez, commander of 4IB based in Mindoro, said the NPA members and couriers were members of Kilusang Larangang Gerilya Silangan, Sub- Regional Military Area (SRMA) 4D, Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) operating in Mindoro.
Gutierrez said the identities of the surrenderers, who are under military custody, have been withheld for security reasons.
He said the two NPA member told the military that they finally decided to surrender after the hardships and starvation they went through. They said they are tired and weary from wandering just to elude pursuit operations by government troops.
The five couriers, Gutierrez added, surrendered to authorities to clear their names from involvement in the communist group’s activities.
“Ginamit kami ng mga hukbo bilang mga kuryer o milisyang bayan. Ginamit kami nila bilang mga taga-hatid ng mga pagkaing nakokolekta sa mga tao sa barangay. Kami rin ang mga nagmamatyag o nag-mamanman sa sinumang tao na kumukontra sa kilusan (the NPA used us as couriers or militia. They deployed us as messengers/couriers of the food we collected from the village folks. We are also used to serve as surveillance personnel or informants on anybody who opposes their movement),” the couriers said, adding that the NPA's promises "were lies.”
Gutierrez added that the couriers expressed frustration and hopelessness over the NPA leaders’ unfulfilled promises of giving them PHP3,000 and a sack of rice quarterly, which could have supported their families.
“Nalagay sa peligro ang aming buhay dahil sa pagsuporta namin sa NPA, pero dahil nabalitaan namin na bukas at tinutulungan ng gobyerno ang mga katulad namin, kaya minarapat po namin na sumuko (Our lives were endangered because we supported the NPA, but after learning the government’s support and assistance, we have decided to surrender),” the couriers added.
Brig. Gen. Antonio G. Parlade Jr., commander of the 203rd Infantry Brigade, which has operational jurisdiction over Mindoro Island, said the rebels and couriers’ surrender signals the success of the community-based negotiations with the NPAs in the area.
“A resolution supporting the localized peace talks was already approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial legislative councils) of both Oriental and Occidental Mindoro provinces on Aug. 6 and 7, 2018, respectively,” Parlade added.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Rhoderick M. Parayno, commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division (2ID), hailed the efforts of the military troops against the NPA members in the area.
He reiterated that the 2nd Infantry Division has been pushing for the conduct of localized peace talks with the NPA communist terrorist group in Region 4-A (Calabarzon) and in the provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon.
Parayno was referring to the 10 NPA comrades who surrendered in Batangas three days ago through localized negotiations.
“We are expecting more NPAs to surrender within the next few weeks. A local peace talk is more realistic and has a very good chance of success since issues are addressed and resolved immediately,” he said.
Capt. Patrick Jay M. Retumban, chief of the 2ID public affairs office, said the 4IB commander will also formally present the surrenderers to the local government units (LGUs) and other government agencies in Mindoro.
Retumban added that both the Mindoro island-based military authorities and LGUs are facilitating the enlistment of surrendered NPA comrades and couriers’ in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
He said E-CLIP is the government’s holistic inter-agency approach and peaceful initiative to end insurgency by encouraging rebels to join mainstream society through various grants and compensations they can avail of to start life anew and become responsible members of society. (PNA)
