Wednesday, August 15, 2018

37 NPA rebs, supporters yield in Mt Prov, Ifugao



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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