AN OFFICIAL of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) attributed the increasing number of New People’s Army (NPA) surrenderees to the peace dialogues in the community level.
Colonel Edgardo de Leon, commander of 4th Infantry Division’s 403rd Infantry Brigade said unlike the snail-paced peace talks in the national level, peace initiatives in the communities are much more effective and fast.
“Sa pamamagitan ng direktang pakikipagpulong ng lokal na pamahalaan, kasama ang army, sa mga kamag-anak at kaibigan ng mga rebelde mas nagiging mabilis ang pagkakaunawaan (Through direct dialogues of the local government, with the army and families of rebels, there is understanding),” he said.
“Kaya umaasa kami na mas marami pang rebelde ang magbabalik-loob lalo pa at malapit na ang pasko. Naniniwala kami na marami pang NPA ang gustong sumuko, pero tinatakot at pinipigilan ng kanilang mga lider. Naghihintay po ang army sa inyo at bukas ang aming pinto sa inyong pagbabagong buhay (So we are really hoping that more rebels will surrender especially that Christmas nears. We believe that more NPA wants to surrender but they are prevented and threatened by their leaders. But we will wait for you and we are opening our doors for you to transform your lives),” he added.
De Leon made the remark last week in Impasug-ong town, Bukidnon when 5 more NPA rebels surrendered and turned over their firearms to the 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB).
Alias LUCAS, 49 yrs old, resident of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, surrendered one (1) Cal. 30 M1 Garand rifle. alias “GM,” 22 yrs old turned-in one (1) Cal. 22 rifle; alias PIGONG, 18 yrs old, one (1) Cal. 22 rifle; alias BOY, 25 yrs old, one (1) Cal. 22 rifle and alias COBRA, 24 yrs old, one (1) Cal. 9mm sub machine gun.
Hardships, internal discrimination, and false promises were among the reasons cited why they quit the NPA.
Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana, 8IB Commander said the Community Support Program “opened the door for our misguided brothers to return to mainstream.”
He said he is expecting more surrenders in the coming days as troops intensify their efforts in reaching out to remote barangays and sitios to offer peace with the rebels.
“Every day, more and more NPA members are surfacing to avail of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). With the help of the Local Government Units, we have convinced more NPA members and supporters to denounce armed struggle and embrace peace. We are expecting more surrenderers in the coming days,” he added. (PJ Orias)