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
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