CAMP MARCELO A. ADDURU, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Thirty-seven New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and supporters surrendered in the one-day Simultaneous Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) in Cagayan on Thursday, Sept. 8.

The police SACLEO was conducted in support of the implementation of programs for rebel returnees under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

The Police Regional Office 2 continues to urge members of the Leftist group to surrender to enjoy a peaceful life and not experience the fate of their comrades who died due to hunger.

Last July 5, the remains of eight NPA members were unearthed in Barangay Canadam, Maconacon, Isabela and were confirmed to have died of starvation.

Brig. Gen. Steve Bentican Ludan, PRO 2 director, said this proved that joining the NPA will not do anyone good.

ALIAS ‘BRYAN’

Alias “Bryan,” was one of the eight communist guerillas whose remains were dug up by the 95th Infantry Battalion.

The father of Bryan, a BS Architecture graduate of the University of Santo Tomas in Sampaloc, Manila, was emotional when he received the urn of his son in Cauayan City, Isabela.

He hoped that his son is still alive despite receiving the urn containing his ashes. “One of these days baka umuwi rin siya sa bahay (maybe he will go home),” he said.

Bryan’s father reached out to authorities when they learned that the bodies of eight NPA rebels were found in Isabela.

He asked for distinguishing features which matched his son’s.

He was devastated and never imagined that his son will join the NPA.

“Hindi ko naman siya nakitaan ng any sign of violence. Wala siyang kaaway sa labas at maraming siyang kaibigan. Kilala ko ang anak ko. Masakit mawalan ng anak. Mas magandang mauna ang magulang kesa sa anak. Pero ito, nauna ang anak. Masakit (I did not see any sign of violence in him. He had no enemies and he had a lot of friends. I know my son. It pains me to lose him),” he said.

“For the past two years, umalis siya ng bahay (he left the house). May communication kami pero madalang dahil nasa malayo siya at walang signal (We seldom communicate because he was far and had no signal). Ang sabi niya nasa community service siya. Nagtuturo siya sa mga Aeta kaya sabi ko sige, nakakatulong ka pala e. Hindi naman ako naghihinala kasi honest naman sa akin ‘yun e. And early this year ang last contact ko sa kanya (He told me he was doing community service, teaching Aetas, so I said, ‘Go ahead, you are helping.’ I did not suspect (that he is with the NPA) because he was honest with me. My last contact with him was early this year),” he said.

The recovered bodies were that of members of the Isabela Provincial Committee, Regional Committee-Cagayan Valley.