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Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Ranking rebel leader, kid-rebel surrender
By Ben O. Tesiorna
A HIGH-ranking rebel leader operating in Agusan and another young rebel surrendered to the Philippine Army last week.
The rebel leader was identified as Jose Adorna alias Warren, secretary of the Front Committee 8 of the New People's Army's (NPA) Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
Adorna surrendered to the Army's 36th Infantry Battalion in San Luis, Agusan del Sur on May 16.
Meanwhile, the young rebel was identified as Mario, 16, who surrendered to the authorities last May 19. Adorna also surrendered one Armalite and a caliber 45 pistol along with ammunition.
Prior to his surrender, Adorna operated in the municipalities of Prosperidad, Talacogon, San Luis and Rosario in Agusan del Sur. The military said Adorna is the concurrent chief of section committee (Secom) "Champion" that operates in Barangays Santiago, Moritula, Inabucayan, Mahapag, Wegguam, Dimasalang, Santa Ines and Don Pedro all of San Luis municipality.
As well as Barangays Guadalupe, San Jose and MacArthur in Esperanza, Surigao del Sur.
Adorna's wife, Ka Dannah, heads the Secom Sunrise operating in Barangays San Roque and San Vicente of Prosperidad and Barangay Del Monte in Talacogon.
Adorna, joined the NPA 17 years ago, said they have long been monitoring the activities of the military in their area and were even planning to ambush troops of the Army's 36th IB while conducting civic-military operations in the hinterland barangays.
Adorna said the ambush did not push through because they realized it would be counterproductive to win the sympathy of the masses.
The rebel leader admitted that the military won the sympathy of Agusan del Sur residents due to their various activities that benefited the people.
Low morale
For this, Adorna said, the rebels are now experiencing massive demoralization saying that his command that originally had eight platoons now has only one platoon.
Adorna said the presence of corrupt and self-serving leaders in the regional command of the NPA and other problems bugging their organization now has evidently degraded the morale of their members particularly those in the lower echelon.
He then called on his other comrades to follow him and lay down their firearms as well. Asked why he was not able to influence the other rebels under his command to surrender with him, Adorna said he did not divulge his plan to other members, not even to his wife, for fear that their superiors might be informed of his plan.
He said any rebel who decides to surrender their firearm to the authorities would be meted with death.
Unfulfilled promise
For his part, Mario decided to surrender after Kumander Parago reportedly failed to keep his promise that he would support his family financially.
Mario said Parago promised to give P600 monthly to each members of his family. The minor said that for the duration of his six months stay in the rebel movement, Parago gave not even a single centavo to his family in Panabo City.
Major General Samuel Bagasin, chief of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said Adorna will be given P18,000 for the Armalite rifle he surrendered and another P8,000 for the caliber .45 pistol.
Meanwhile, Mario will be placed under the Army's literacy program and will be given a livelihood program to start his young life anew.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 24, 2005 issue)
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