BOMB MAKER NO MORE. A bomb maker of the communist terrorist group surrenders to the military in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday (June 22, 2022). He also yielded two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a 20-meter detonating cord, among others. (Photo courtesy of 7ID, Philippine Army)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – A bomb maker of the communist terrorist group (CTG) surrendered to the military in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto, commanding officer of the Army’s 84th Infantry Battalion (84IB) under the 7th Infantry Division (7ID), said on Thursday alias "Ka Wing", 34, a member of the New People's Army's (NPA) Larangan Gerilya sa Patag 1 (LGP1), also yielded two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a 20-meter detonating cord, one 500-milliliter (ml) bottle containing 125 ml of phosphorus black powder and two anti-tank IEDs.
He said Ka Wing, who has been operating in Nueva Ecija for five years, decided to surrender after realizing the deception and false promises of the CTG.
“Ako po ay nagbalik-loob at nag-surrender sa ating mga kasundaluhan sapagkat napagtanto ko na ako lamang ay nililinlang, ginamit, at pinangakuang mabibigyan ng lupain ng teroristang NPA at para makapamuhay ng maayos kasama ng aking pamilya at malinis ang aking pangalan (I surrendered to our military troops because I realized that I was the only one being deceived, used and promised to be given a land by the NPA (New People's Army) and to live properly with my family and also to clear my name),” Ileto quoted the rebel as saying.
He said with Ka Wing’s decision to return to the fold of the law, the latter would never again make explosives that can destroy lives and properties as well as create fear among the people.
Ileto reiterated his call to the remaining CTG members to abandon the terrorist organization and avail of the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo, commander of the 7ID, commended the 84IB for the surrender of Ka Wing.
“We can recall that for the past six months, enormous numbers of returnees have been set down. It is a proof that the campaign against insurgency is efficient, with the help of the local government agencies to guide the returnee to start a new life,” Costelo said in a statement.
The Communist Party of the Philippines -NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The National Democratic Front 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. (PNA)
