BAGUIO CITY -- A
total of 37 “guerrillas” and supporters of the communist New People’s Army
surrendered to government troops in Ifugao and Mountain Province first week of
August, authorities reported Wednesday.
On Aug. 4, 14 NPA
full-fledged “militia ng bayan” (MB) and six supporters surfaced in Barangay
Namal, Asipulo, Ifugao. MB refers to individuals who have been indoctrinated
and may or may not be directly involved in armed struggle but provide support to the movement.
On Aug. 7, six more MBs
and 11 local supporters from the villages of Tinoc town also came forward,
bringing to 37 the total number of surrenderees in less than a week.
The first batch of
surrenderers handed over to the government soldiers an M-16 rifle.
The surrenderers came
out as government soldiers stationed in Cordillera held peace caravans in those
areas on Aug. 4.
“The CNT-MB and their
supporters voluntarily surrendered to our teams facilitating the Community
Support Program, after having dialogue with the community about the Enhanced
Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) in the said towns,” Capt.
Jefferson Somera, chief of the Philippine Army's 5th Infantry Division Public
Affairs Office quoted 54th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Narciso
Nabulneg Jr. as saying on Wednesday.
The 54th IB operates in
the provinces of Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, and Baguio.
“These personalities
were long-time supporters of the enemy that played a vital role in the survival
of the CNT group, and by having them on our side we can now paralyze the
enemies' activities in their traditional abode. We will soon reach the desired
peace and development in this part of the country,” Somera said.
Somera said the
left-leaning surrenderers also had their oath of allegiance to the government
and denounced their former groups in front of their families, friends, and
local elected officials in a short program during the peace caravan in Sagada,
Mountain Province.
Locals, tribal elders,
youths, and staff of the Philippine National Police and of the 54th Infantry
Battalion also witnessed the event.
“The attendees were
holding placards declaring that the people of Sagada are peace loving people,”
Somera said.
The peace
caravans, he said, were aimed at bringing various government services to the
communities, especially in far-flung areas.
Joining the peace
caravans were people from the Department of Public Works and Highways, who took
the chance to visit the area to conduct a survey for various infrastructure
projects; from the Municipal Social Work Office, who distributed food packages;
from the Santiago City Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, who led a medical
outreach activity; Philippine Red Cross, and from the Provincial Environment
and Natural Resources Office in Ifugao.
The Bureau of Fire
Protection and the PNP also held an information drive during the event.
Major Gen. Perfecto
Rimando Jr., commander of the Army's 5ID, said teams under the 54IB's Community
Support Program would continue to work hard to convince left-leaning people to
return to the fold of the law.
Meanwhile, Somera said the
surrenderees would receive immediate assistance and reintegration assistance
and remuneration for firearm surrendered under E-CLIP. -- PNA
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