BUTUAN CITY – Seven New People’s Army (NPA) fighters surrendered to the Army 36th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Puyat, Carmen, Surigao del Sur, on Thursday, December 14.
Major Francisco P. Garello Jr., chief of Public Affairs Office (PAO) of Army 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, said these communist rebels turned themselves in due to the lack of leadership and exhaustion from focused military operations in Surigao del Sur and neighboring areas.
SOME of the high-powered firearms surrendered by communist rebels in Surigao del Sur on Thursday, December 14. (4th ID-PAO via Mike U. Crismundo)
“They are now under debriefing, in preparation for their enrollment in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP,” Garello said.
The rebel returnees were composed of six regular NPA and one Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members connected with Platoon 1 of the Weakened Guerilla Front 30 and the augmented vertical elements of the SRSDG Westland operating in the municipalities of Lanuza, Cortes, Tago, Tandag City, and San Miguel in Surigao del Sur.
They yielded two AK47 rifles, one AR15 rifle, one caliber .30 Garand rifle, one M14 rifle, and bullets.
Lt. Col. Vincent Viray, commanding officer of the 36th IB, confirmed that the communist guerrillas surrendered due to exhaustion and hunger as a result of relentless military operations and lack of support from communities.
Major Gen. Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, commanding general of the 4th ID, lauded the 36th IB and 901st Infantry Brigade for continuously reaching out and providing remaining NPA rebels an opportunity to return to the path of peace.
Cuerpo also commended various stakeholders for rallying behind the Army and supporting the government's call for peace that demonstrated the positive impact of the whole-of-nation approach in ending local communist armed conflict.
"The voluntary surrender of these CTG members only displays the effectiveness of collaborative counter-insurgency initiatives and the unwavering commitment to finally dismantle all networks of the few remaining and weakened CTG units in Caraga and Northern Mindanao,” Cuerpo said.
“Rest assured that the Diamond troopers will continue to help our long-lost brothers and sisters in bringing them back to the mainstream society and live a normal life together with their families, especially that we are celebrating the Christmas season,” he said.
“Your decision to heed to our call is the best Christmas gift you could give to your families. We further encourage the remaining CTG members to follow the footsteps of their former comrades who surrendered and have been enjoying the benefits under the ECLIP program of the government."