A total of 139 communist rebels, one of them a trusted henchman of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NPA) leaders operating in Mindoro island, surrendered to the police since January this year, the Police Regional Office 4B has disclosed.
PRO4B director Brig. Gen. Joel Doria said included in the list of those who surrendered are 20 communist rebels whose names are in the Periodic Status Report of the regional police while the rest are regular fighters and supporters.
The recent rebel who surrendered, according to Doria, was 57-year old “Ka Alyana” who works for the leader of the Mindoro Islacom Committee operating in the towns of Roxas, Mansalay and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro; and, the town of Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, and Calintaan in Occidental Mindoro.
“Ka Alyana” surrendered to the personnel of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company Occidental Mindoro Provincial Police Office.
“The surrender of ‘Ka Alyana’ was a result of the relentless efforts of our intelligence units. ‘Ka Alyana’ is now under the custody and supervision of 2nd PMFC Occidental Mindoro PPO for custodial debriefing,” said Doria.
The PRO4B has jurisdiction over Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, or Mimaropa.
But Doria assured that “Ka Alyana” will be included in the documentation and assistance in processing of Enhanced Comprehensive and Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a government program which offers livelihood and financial assistance to communist rebels who would decide to surrender.
“I laud the efforts of our personnel and partner units in this endeavor. This only proves the government’s whole-of-nation approach under the NTF-ELCAC is gaining far in its ultimate goal to put an end to decades-long local communist terrorism in the country,” said Doria.
The NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) is a whole-of-government approach which focuses on localized push to convince rebels to surrender.
The Task Force offers incentives to barangays that would be cleared of communist rebel influence that include multi-million road, water supply, health and sanitation and other livelihood projects.
“I hope that this success urges the remaining members of Communist Terrorist Groups to finally surrender and return to the folds of the law to become productive citizens of society,” said Doria.