SURRENDER. New People’s Army member Danny Boy Makatin (right) hands over his M16 rifle to Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion commander (left), during his surrender Monday (Sept. 17, 2018) at the 33rd IB headquarters in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat province. (Photo by Philippine Army's 6ID)
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – An active member of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) operating in Sultan Kudarat on Monday voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion and vowed to become a productive citizen.
To the surprise of everyone, Danny Boy Makatin, 30, of the NPA Platoon Arabo Guerilla Front 73, upon presentation to Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion commander, executed a salute to the Philippine flag when the national anthem was sung at the military unit’s headquarters in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat.
Makatin handed over an M14 rifle to Cabunoc and told the Army official he is now ready to be reintegrated back to the society.
Cabunoc lauded his men for the effort in convincing rebels to live normal lives once more as one way of addressing the insurgency problem.
Makatin would be enrolled in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) for rebel returnees.
Since last year, at least 180 communists in Sultan Kudarat have surrendered to the government through the 33rd IB reconciliation and reintegration program for rebels. Of this number, 65 have availed of benefits from the ECLIP program.
The 3rd IB has operational jurisdiction over three towns in Sultan Kudarat, and another seven in adjacent Maguindanao province. (PNA)
