SURRENDER. The flags of the New People’s Army (NPA), doctrinal documents, and weapons surrendered by some 44 combatants from parts of Sarangani in a ceremony on Thursday, May 28, in Kiamba town. A total of 108 NPA rebels under Guerilla Fronts 72 and 73 have surrendered in the last two weeks to police and Army personnel in South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces. (Photo courtesy of the Police Regional Office-12)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A total of 108 more New People’s Army (NPA) rebels operating in South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces surrendered to government authorities in the last two weeks, the most number for the area in recent years.
Brig. Gen. Michael John Dubria, Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 director, said Friday the rebels yielded voluntarily to police and Army personnel starting May 15 following a series of negotiations.
Dubria said the series of surrenders were done in coordination with concerned local government leaders, through the Task Forces to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC).
Some 21 NPA rebels under Guerilla Fronts 72 and 73 surrendered last May 15 in Tupi and Banga towns, 36 on May 22 in Lake Sebu and seven on May 26 in Tantangan town, all in South Cotabato province.
On Thursday, 44 more rebels from parts of Sarangani formally yielded in Kiamba town.
Dubria said the series of surrenders show that the government’s efforts to win back the trust and confidence of people who had lost their faith in the system have been gaining ground.
“It also manifests that more and more CTG (communist terrorist group) members now gradually realize the bitter reality of being captives of the wrong cause,” he said in a report.
Dubria, who joined the presentation of the surrenderers in Sarangani on Thursday, said NPA units in the area were “continuously weakening as some of (their) leaders are returning to the folds of the law.”
The 44 returnees in Sarangani, who were led by a certain “Tiger,” surrendered over a dozen high-powered firearms, assorted ammunition, explosives, NPA emblems, and subversive documents.
During the ceremony facilitated by the joint Provincial and Municipal TF-ELCAC, the surrenderers burned an NPA flag and other rebel documents.
“Tiger”, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, said they decided to surrender after realizing the “senselessness of their armed struggle,” especially amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
He apologized to the government for the offenses and unlawful activities they made in the past and vowed to start a “brand new and peaceful life.”
The provincial government of Sarangani said it has released initial financial assistance to the returnees. The mayors of Maitum, Kiamba and Maasim also said they will include the former rebels in the housing programs of the National Housing Authority.
Lt. Col. Lino Capellan, PRO-12 spokesperson, said in an interview the returnees will be enlisted into the flagship Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
Under the program, qualified former rebels will receive financial and livelihood assistance and other support packages from various government agencies. (PNA)
