BUTUAN CITY – Three New People’s Army fighters surrendered to the Army 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion in Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on Monday, Nov. 11.
DOWNTOWN Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
“Fear is among the primary reasons that they decided to return to the fold of the law in order to begin a new and peaceful life together with their respective families in the mainstream society,” said Lt. Col. Mark S. Tabon, commanding officer of the 29th IB.
Tabon identified the surrenderers as Ka Ola, Ka Daryl, and Ka Josh. They turned over three guns and bullets.
The surrenderers were members of the Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabedad Westland of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
“Mao rani akong ipaabot sa inyo nga dinhi dili mo hilabtan, dili mo pasakitan kay parehas man ta, dili mi ganahan nga mupatay ug parehas nga Pilipino. Ang ako lang hangyo nga ug naa pa moy kaila nga naa pa sa bukid nga gusto na munaog, tabangan nato sila kay taman nalang sa 2025 ang atong amnesty," Tabon said in his initial talk with the rebel returnees.
(This is what I want to convey to you: Here, you will not be harmed or hurt because we are the same, we do not want to kill a fellow Filipino. My only request is that if you know anyone that are still in the mountains who wants to return to the fold of the law, let us help them because our amnesty program is only available until 2025)
“I am also calling on all those who remain in the mountains to come down, as our unit is open in accepting them. Give yourselves a chance, especially now that Christmas is coming, to be united and celebrate Christmas with your entire family,” Tabon added.
The rebel returnees are currently undergoing documentary procedures for their enrollment to ECLIP, a program that extends cash and livelihood assistance for former communist rebels who return to the fold of the law.