TWENTY-EIGHT New People’s Army (NPA) and Milisyang Bayan members have decided to surrender to government authorities in Sarangani province after witnessing how the lives of their former comrades have changed, military officials said Sunday, December 11, 2022.
They surrendered to the Army’s 38th Infantry Battalion (IB) on Thursday, December 8, in Purok Caballero, Tambilil village, Kiamba, Sarangani.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Angelo Candole, 38IB acting commander, said the surrenderers have turned over five Garand rifles, an improvised explosive device, 17 rounds of caliber .30 ammunition, three Garand clips, two 40-millimeter high explosives ammunition, and 70 meters of electrical wire.
Candole said three of the surrenderers were members of Squad Primera of Guerilla Front Musa, Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR), while the rest were from the Milisyang Bayan and Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad.
“The former rebels revealed that they witnessed how the lives of their comrades changed after they decided to return to mainstream society and this convinced them to surrender as well,” he said.
Major General Roy Galido, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central commander, said they will recommend the surrenderers to avail of the benefits of the government’s program like the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).
The municipal government of Kiamba has given the NPA surrenderers initial financial assistance, food items, assorted vitamins and medicines.
The NPA surrenderers presented to Kiamba Municipal Police Station for proper documentation.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Arturo Rojas, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) acting commander, has commended the troops for the remarkable accomplishment that led to the surrender of the 28 NPAs and Milisang Bayan members.
Rojas urged the NPA remnants to end their armed struggle and support the government’s peace efforts.
“Reintegration packages which include livelihood and capacity development trainings, are being prepared to provide former rebels and their families social equity and a fair chance to be productive members of the society,” Rojas said.
He attributed the influx of surrenders to the government’s reintegration programs being implemented by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the collaborative efforts of the military forces, the local chief executives, other law enforcement agencies, peace-inclined groups, and the peace-loving people of Mindanao. (SunStar Zamboanga)