A New People’s Army (NPA) couple reunited with their two-year-old daughter on “Father’s Day” after they surrendered to the military in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon province.
Troopers from 58th Infantry Battalion (58th IB) and 8th Infantry Battalion (8th IB) spent their “Father’s Day” away from their families just to ensure the success of the reunion of the NPA couple with their child, 58th IB Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer 1st Lt. Jefferson M. Mariano said on Wednesday.
Hunger and hardships in the mountain were one of the reasons why the couple returned to the fold of law, according to Mariano.
“But what really prompted them to surrender is the longing to see and be with their daughter who were away with them for almost three years,” Mariano said.
“Six days after giving birth, we left our child in the hinterland in Mahagwa area, Barangay Hagpa of that same town in the care of alias ‘Jane’ to provide support while they were pursuing the government forces,” the wife said in Visayan dialect.
The husband, “Ka Dino”, also expressed his gratitude to the government troops for helping them.
“As a father, I am really happy that we are with our daughter this special day and we are now happy and ready to provide parental love which was deprived during our revolution against the government troops,” the teary eyed father added.
The couple will be in the custody of 58th IB while waiting for their inclusion in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). (Mike Crismundo)