MORE members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) have sent surrender fillers through local government unit officials in Negros Island, a military official confirm yesterday, September 28.
Brigadier General Innocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB), said that there are no dates yet of the surrender as these rebels are worried that their comrades may prevent them from doing so.
“Some of those who sent surrender fillers were platoon commanding officers but most of them are members of both Central Negros (CN) 1 and 2,” Pasaporte told SunStar Bacolod.
Rebels under CN 1 operates in Guihulngan City and Vallehermoso town in Negros Oriental as well in the towns of Isabela and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental, military records showed.
It added that those who belong to CN 2 are operating in the town of Binalbagan, Himamaylan City and portions of Kabankalan City.
Last week, 17 former rebels including three top officials also returned to government fold in Guihulngan City.
Meanwhile, 17 former rebels received financial assistance, food packs and hygiene kits while 10 others received educational assistance from the Task Force End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Elcac) and Himamaylan City government on Tuesday, September 27.
Pasaporte led the distribution along with Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr, 94th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Van Donald Almonte and local police chief Lt. Colonel Renante Jomocan at the city hall.
Akoline, hygiene, family, sleeping and kitchen kits were distributed to the former rebels on top of the financial and educational assistance they have received from the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Pasaporte stressed that the former rebels were just victims of the propaganda lies and deceptive recruitment of CTGs.
“The Army strongly supports this initiative and we welcome those who want to lay down their arms,” he added.*