NPA CLAN NO MORE. Alias Rina, Vic, and Yeni are senior members of a clan consisting of 16 members who surrendered to the military on January 16 in Remedios Trinidad Romualdez town in Agusan del Norte. The senior members of the clan decided to return to the fold of the law to give their younger members normal lives. (Photo courtesy of 29IB)
BUTUAN CITY – They left just as they joined--as a family.
A total of 16 clan members consisting of two families have fled the communist New People's Army (NPA) and surrendered to military authorities in Agusan del Norte, military officials said Tuesday.
“The clan formally surrendered to the Army on January 16. We processed them first as some of their family members are still minors,” 1st Lt. Miguel Borromeo, the civil-military operations officer of the Army's 29th Infantry Battalion told Philippine News Agency.
Borromeo said the heads of the two families were recruited by the NPA two years ago, and brought their children as well into the service of the communist guerillas.
The Army official characterized the clan's membership with the NPA as a "family business," with their members occupying various roles.
For instance, some of the members acted as couriers and supply officers for the NPA cadres.
Borromeo said the clan decided to return to the fold of the law at the behest of their senior member, alias “Vic”, 43, who wanted to carve a different future for the younger members of the clan.
Another factor that convinced the clan members to flee from the NPA, Borromeo said, was starvation and other hardships that rebels must endure while being chased by government forces in the hinterlands.
Lt. Col. Isagani O. Criste, 29IB commander, welcomed the surrender of the clan members and assured them of the government’s support.
Criste identified the senior members of the clan only in their aliases: Vic's wife, Rina, 40, and his younger brother, Yeni. They are residents of Remedios Trinidad Romualdez town in Agusan del Norte.
He said the surrenderers handed over an M-16 rifle, ammunition, and medical supplies to authorities.
Criste said Vic and Rina surrendered along with their eight children, three of whom served as couriers for the NPA.
Yeni also brought with him his six children during the surrender, including his wife who was not identified by the Army.
Criste said ages of the two couples' children range from 12 to 33.
Criste said both families have received financial assistance and livelihood training that would help them live comfortable lives under the law.
Borromeo said the clan members worked either as regulars or militiamen for Guerrilla Front Committee 21 (GFC-21) under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC) of the NPA.
Some of the family members even served as members of Squad Bobee-3, Sandatahang Yunit Pangpropaganda (SYP) of GFC-21, he added.
“With the support of the other government agencies and other stakeholders, we are now processing their enrolment to the ECLIP (ECLIP stands for Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) of the government,” Borromeo said. (PNA)
