5 NPAs with platoon head surrender to Kalinga cops

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Five New People’s Army members including a commander recently surrendered to police here at Camp Juan Duyan. 

“Ka Diwa”, platoon leader of the Lejo Cawilan Command, “Komiteng Larangan Gerilya Baggas” of the NPA surrendered to Kalinga police led by Col. Job Russel Balaquit afternoon of Oct. 16 at Camp Duyan here in Tabuk City.

He was brought to the regional police headquarters in Camp Damgwa, La Trinidad, Benguet on Monday.

After the surrender of "Ka Diwa" on Oct. 16, four more members of the NPA voluntarily surrendered at Camp Duyan. 

Four members of Militia ng Bayan under NPA’s LCC identified through their aliases as Abag, Amaya, Berna and Yasel, all residents of Barangay Buaya, Balbalan, Kalinga, surrendered around 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 23. 

 Two of the returnees surrendered their firearms. Abag gave up a M1 US Garrand rifle loaded with two magazines and seven bullets while Amaya surrendered an AR18 assault rifle, two magazines and 25 ammunition while Berna and Yasel surrendered without firearms.

 Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, Police Regional Office Cordillera director said in a statement sent to the media Monday night he appreciates the courage of Ka Diwa to surrender despite the dangers he faces for leaving the group.

Dickson gave financial assistance to Ka Diwa to cover his expenses while waiting for eligibility to avail of the benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

The program provides surrendering communist rebels a holistic package benefits that they can avail of such as livelihood, medical assistance, education, housing and legal service as the government’s show its sincerity to end the hostilities by encouraging NPA members to re-embrace the law and the government.

Police Maj. Carolina Lacuata, PROCor information officer, said “Ka Diwa” also surrendered a 7.62mm M60 machine gun without ammunition; two 60-mm mortars with three mortar ammunition; a homemade shotgun with three 12- gauge ammunition to show his intent to lead a new life, which will have a corresponding “amount”.

Lacuata said “Ka Diwa” surrendered to the police despite knowing that there are criminal cases filed against him.

She said the former NPA officer would rather face the charges than continue living in hiding.

Ka Diwa has warrants of arrest for attempted murder with a recommended bail of P200,000 and another case for four counts of attempted murder with a recommended bail of P120,000 for each count.

Ka Diwa” reportedly began to be demoralized by their leaders’ inability to remain true to the principles that the organization purportedly is fighting for, aside from doubts after witnessing the breakdown of the discipline of the people in the organization.

 Lacuata said “Ka Diwa” remains in the custody of Kalinga Police Office while awaiting promulgation of the criminal cases filed against him, which will also determine his eligibility to avail of the E-CLIP’s benefits.

Meanwhile, the four other surrenderees are now also under protection of  police authorities for their security and facilitation of benefits and financial assistance for them to start a new and peaceful life, said a regional police report. 

“They are just one among other rebels who opted to withdraw their armed struggle for them to be with their families and seek a reformed life in the community.” -- With a report from Dionisio Dennis Jr./ PNA