BUTUAN CITY – Tired of running and hunger in the mountains, four members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) voluntarily gave up to the pursuing government troops in Agusan del Norte.
These four CTG members voluntarily gave up themselves and turned over their shotguns on Saturday to Col. Jason M. Saldua and Lt. Col. Emerson De Vera, Jr., commanding officers of the 29th Infantry Battalion (29th IB) and 65th IB, respectively.
Prior to the surrender, the rebels and the government troops belonging to 29th IB figured in a firefight on Friday (April 22), resulting in the death of one high-ranking CTG personality and seizure of two high-power firearms in Agusan.
The situation forced the four armed CTGs to lay down their firearms and surrender to the 29th IB headquarters in Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
“Hunger and tired of running in the mountains made them give up their useless armed struggle,” said 29th IB Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer 2nd Lt. Rose Ann Mae U. Cordova.
According to them, they wanted to live a normal life because they are already tired of running and hiding in the face of intensified combat operations conducted by the government troops in the hinterlands of Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte and Butuan City, the 29th IB CMO officer told The Manila Bulletin/Tempo on Sunday.
They added that they also feared for their lives especially that they heard the death of their high ranking CTG leader during the said encounter, Lt. Cordova added.
Identities of the four CTG members were temporarily withheld as debriefing was still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Colonel Saldua lauded the efforts of the now former rebels as they stand to benefit from the government’s livelihood program.
"I know that the remaining CTG members are now struggling because of the scarcity of their food supply and resources due to the government’s campaign to combat local communist insurgency under Executive Order No. 70,” said the 29th IB commander.
“With our intensive information awareness campaign against the CTG, the people are now enlightened about their criminal and terroristic acts wherein they have already declared them as "Persona Non-Grata" in their community,” said Colonel Saldua.
Saldua reiterated his call to the remaining members of the CTG to surrender to the authorities while there is still time.
"I am calling on the remaining CTG members to lay down your weapons and surrender now so that you can now receive the promised help of the government through its Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) benefits,” he said.
“We know that the said program will surely help you and your family to live more peacefully. So, come down now and surrender. We are here to help you,” Col. Saldua assured.