TACLOBAN CITY – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Debold Sinas welcomed 39 former rebels in Eastern Visayas who returned to the fold of the law last Saturday.
"Thank you for coming back at sana huwag na kayong bumalik. Sana tulungan niyo kami na kumbinsihin 'yung mga ibang kasama natin, 'yung mga kakilala ninyo na bumalik…Huwag na huwag na kayong magpapaloko sa mga CPP-NPA na 'yan (Thank you for coming back and I hope you won’t return. Help us convince your colleagues to return, too. Don’t be fooled by the CPP-NPA)," he said.
The surrenderers from the last quarter of 2020 to Feb. 2 include 15 high ranking officials under different commands and committees of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front and a seven-month pregnant woman with her husband.
They turned over 29 firearms, two rifle grenades, a fragmentation grenade, and assorted ammunition. Sinas said these will be kept to help the former rebels avail themselves of the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Program (E-CLIP).
The surrenderers were facilitated by the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the PNP chief's program thrust to intensify Internal Security Operations (ISO) through the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).
"I'm very happy that the leaders and different officers were able to maintain good accomplishments," Sinas said. He ordered police officers to coordinate with the local government unit to secure and provide them with employment.
Alias “Soyang,” Secretary-General of People Surge Alliance-Samar, also a member of the Militia ng Bayan of CFS-1, Sub-Regional Committee Browser, Eastern Visayas Regional Party, recalled life when she was still part of the communist rebel group.
"Minsan sa isang linggong lakaran, pagkain at dalawang oras lang na tulog ang pahinga. Hindi pantay-pantay ang pagtingin sa kumander at sa ordinaryong miyembro ng hukbo. 'Yung mga kumander nagpapakasasa sa sarap samantalang 'yung mga ordinaryong hukbo nagtitiis kahit brief hindi mabilhan. Tinahahi na lang 'yung brief, minsan garter na lang ang sinusuot para sabihing may brief (We walk for weeks and we just rest to eat and we only sleep for two hours. We aren’t treated equally. Our commander only has the privileges. We can’t even buy underwear and we have to make do with garter as our underpants)," she lamented.
She recalled the difficulty of being away from her family while fighting for a lost cause which hindered her from achieving her dreams of being a soldier and being able to help her family.
"Tama na ang lokohan. Ilang buhay pa ba ang masasayang? Ilang kabataan pa ba ang magbubuwis ng buhay? Ilang mga magulang pa ba ang mawawalang ng mga anak? (Enough of this foolishness. How many lives will be lost? How many young lives will be lost? How many parents will lose their children?)"
She said she is aware of the threats and that she would rather die with her family than be away from them.
Sinas led the former rebels in taking their oath of allegiance to the Philippine government.