SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- At least 13 members of Communist Front Organization (CFO) surrendered recently to police operatives in La Union and Ilocos Sur through the implementation of the revitalized Philippine National Police’s ‘Kasimbayanan’ program in the region.
Police Brigadier General John C Chua, regional director of the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO 1), said that three former members of the Timpuyog Iti Mannalon nga Umili iti ili nga Naguilian (TIMUN), Barangay Mamat-ing Norte Chapter in Naguillian, La Union surrendered last week to the joint police personnel from the Naguilian police station and the regional and La Union provincial intelligence teams.
Also last week, ten members of the underground movement organization (UGMO) of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in Sitio Paring, Barangay Babalasioan, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur surrendered to the police operatives from the 1st Ilocos Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company.
The surrender and withdrawal of support of these UGMO members from the CTG was the result of the continuous conduct of revitalized PNP Kasimbayanan which encourages them to leave their support to any CFO.
The Kasimbayanan which stands for ‘Kapulisan, Simbahan at Pamayanan,’ bridges the PNP, the general public, faith-based organizations, and key stakeholders toward peaceful, safe, and protected communities.
The 13 CFO members will undergo debriefing. They also received financial support from the government and are set to undergo some skills training to help them start anew.
Chua encouraged the members of the CFOs to go down from the mountains and renew their allegiance to the government so they may start to live a peaceful life.