LEGAZPI CITY – At least nine New People's Army (NPA) rebels and 12 members of the communist movement's Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) voluntarily surrendered early this week and were welcomed by the 49th Infantry Battalion (49IB) in Ligao City in Albay province, a military report said.
Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, in an interview on Thursday said weapons were also surrendered during the presentation of the former rebels and turnover ceremony on Tuesday.
"The former rebels also surrendered one M1 Garand rifle, one M2 Carbine rifle, one .45 pistol, and two .38 revolver pistols," Belleza said.
He said that Lt. Col. Benjamin Tapnio, 49IB commander, personally met the former rebels who renounced their support for the communist terrorist group.
“Ikinagagalak po ng tropa ng 49IB at ng mga mamamayan ng Albay ang inyong pagsuko at pagbabalik-loob, maging daan sana ito upang mas mahikayat pa natin ang inyong mga dating kasamahan, na tulad niyo ay sumuko na rin lang at magbitiw na ng suporta sa CTG, bigyan din natin sila ng pag-asa at dalhin sa mas tuwid na daan tungo sa kapayapaan. (The 49IB and the citizens of Albay are glad because of your voluntary submission and renouncement. May this serve as a way to encourage our former companions to voluntarily surrender and withdraw their support to CTG. Let’s give them hope and bring them on a straighter path towards peace),” he said.
Col. Edmundo G. Peralta, 902nd Infantry Brigade commander also warmly welcomed the rebel returnees.
Peralta said their voluntary submission and renouncement are of great importance not only for them in the Philippine Army but as well as for their families.
He also added that it is a big achievement not only for the Philippine Army but as well as for themselves and the citizens.
Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, Police Regional Office (PRO5) director, said they will continue to encourage the remaining active members of the communist NPA, including its supporters in Albay to renounce and surrender to the folds of the law.
“Hangga’t may natitira pa tayong mga kapatid na biktima pa rin ng mga maling ideolohiya ng kalaban ay hindi hihinto ang tropa ng gobyerno na sila’y hikayatin. Patuloy po kami sa aming misyon na makapagsalba pa ng mas maraming buhay (As long as we have remaining brothers and sisters who are still victims of false ideologies of the enemy, the government troops will not stop encouraging them)," he said.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Alex Luna, 9ID and Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia commander assured that former rebels who surrendered will receive benefits that will give them and their families another hope through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC).
“Ang inyong pagsuko at pagbibitaw ng suporta ay isang repleksyon na mas abot kamay na natin ang tunay na kapayapaan hindi lamang dito sa Albay kundi maging sa buong Bicolandia. Ipinapakita lamang nito na epektibo ang lahat ng ating mga paghikayat at mga programang sibil lalo na sa ating mga kapatid na naligaw ng landas (Surrendering and renouncing is an indication that peace is in our hands not just in Albay but in the entire region. It also shows that all our strategies and programs are effective mostly for our our brothers)," Luna added.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The NDF has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (With a report from Eliakim Neric/PNA-OJT)
