ILIGAN CITY – A platoon of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade at its headquarters in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, at 10 a.m. Thursday.
The 28 rebels, who also yielded seven firearms and explosives, belonged to the Western Mindanao Party Committee who operates in Zamboanga Peninsula provinces and Misamis Occidental.
The group were presented during a ceremony attended by the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict 9 (RTF-ELCAC – 9), represented by Mario Baterna, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Brig. Gen. Generoso “Gene” Ponio, commander of 1st Infantry Dvision of the Philippine Army, and other officials.
Alias Diane, one of the former rebels, said that “Nailad ko sa nag-recruit nako na NPA. Gipasaligan ko na naay SUPAMIL (suporta sa pamilya) kada bulan nga madawat akong pamilya kung moapil mi sa armadong pakigbisog. Apan walay pinansyal na niabot sa among balay”.
(I was deceived by the NPA recruiter. They’ve assured that my family will receive monthly financial support if I am going to join the armed struggle. But the finances they’ve promised were not able to reach our home”.
Alias Diego, also a former rebel, expressed his displeasure on the NPA administration and their armed struggle.
Col. Leonel Nicolas, 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, vowed to enroll the former rebels to the Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). (Bonita L. Ermac)
