TERRORIST CAMP. A New People's Army (NPA) terrorist camp at Barangay Lawang Langka in Mangatarem town in Pangasinan seized by the Army on Nov. 24, 2020. The intelligence security operation continues to find the NPA members. (Photo courtesy of AFP)
MANGATAREM, Pangasinan – The Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) conduct of intelligence security operations in the mountainous area in this town continues following the armed encounter against members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Tuesday.
“We just terminated the conduct of combat operations but we are still enhancing our intelligence security operations to find them. Two big enemy encampments hastily abandoned by the terrorist group were discovered at Barangay Lawang Langka. But they have left. Based on reports we received, they splintered into small groups away from the area, some returned to Tarlac and some to Zambales,” said Brig. General Audrey Pasia, Commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade, in an interview on Friday.
Pasia said the group was not from Pangasinan but from Tarlac and Zambales.
“They thought they were safe in the mountainous areas of Pangasinan lying along the provincial tri-boundary of the three provinces. But no, they are not welcome there, not in Pangasinan or any place. The people do not want them anymore, they just threaten the people, but the people are fed up. They are losing support in the barrios and urban areas, even in Congress,” he added.
Pasia urged the terrorist group to denounce the "armed struggle” adding “if they want to have changes in the political leadership, they should wait for elections.”
“We are encouraging the members of the NPA to just return to the folds of the government, there's no use of fighting this government—their government. They should choose peace, instead,” he said.
Pasia added there were no casualties on both sides reported.
Nonetheless, the Army said the operation was not to annihilate the NPA members but to check if any of them needed medical attention and to convince them to return to the government and their families especially this Christmas season.
Public information officer of the AFP-Northern Luzon Command, Maj. Marco Antonio Magisa, said members of the terrorist group wanting to give up the armed struggle could approach their village chiefs, local chief executives, and camps of the military.
“We assure that their rights will be respected and they will be assisted on how to formalize their surrender and how to avail of the grants under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP),” he said in a separate interview.
Magisa said ECLIP provides PHP700,000 worth of benefits that will be given to rebel-returnees.
He said the first they will receive upon surrender is the immediate cash and livelihood assistance amounting to PHP65,000.
“Aside from that, former rebels can also avail of up to PHP400,000 worth of housing,” he said adding the government also extends monetary assistance for firearm remuneration depending on the caliber.
Magisa added that as of October this year, there are already 301 former rebels who benefited from the government grants.
Meanwhile, Magisa said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and other government agencies also provide skills and livelihood advancements in accordance with the Executive Order No. 70, or the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).
“These are the tangible proof of the sincerity of the government in attaining long-lasting peace and hope with the communist group,” he said.
Magisa said the government is now closer to achieving genuine peace, progress, and prosperity due to the eradication of insurgency in many parts of the country.
“We should work hand-in-hand to stop the fight between Filipinos. The time must come to us as a nation to move forward as a nation and let’s together attain the life we all deserve,” he said.
The Army has been monitoring the movement of the group since a few weeks ago following the report from the community in the area. (PNA)
