SEVEN members of the Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla Marco in Mountain Province also identified have formally taken the oath of allegiance to the government after surrendering on February 18.
Police Brigadier General R’win Pagkalinawan, Police Regional Office–Cordillera (PRO–COR) director, identified the surrenderers as Delfin Madarang aka Joey, Farag Con-o aka Berto, Daniel Wapay aka Daniel, Cariño Panisoc, Flores Selong, Castro Bangloy aka Bishop, and Romnick Teg-or aka Rom.
“We again call on our brothers to follow the actions of our seven brothers who decided to return to the mainstream of society. We would like to reiterate the government’s support for rebel returnees who will be accorded the necessary benefits coming from government under the whole of government approach,” Pagkalinawan said.
President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order No. 70 in December 2018 establishing a whole-of-nation approach in ending local communist armed conflict through the creation of a national task force (NTF) that will take the lead in institutionalizing a national peace framework.
As a matter of state principle and policy as mandated by the Constitution, the government will maintain “peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property” and promote the general welfare. Consistent with the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022, the attainment of inclusive and sustainable peace through peace-building initiatives is optimal in this presidential directive. The whole-of-nation approach as directed by the President is essential for this peace framework to become workable, effective and beneficial.
During the formal oath of allegiance, the returnees surrendered six long firearms, two carbin and one Garan, two M14, one M16.
“The President made a calculated and strategic move in establishing this approach to a peace framework. It is in these times that the government indices other members of the CTG to return to society with the support mechanisms that will be provided them by the different agencies of government in their transition as regular members of our peaceful society,” Pagkalinawan added.