TWO FULL-time members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), including a female combatant, have decided to take the path of peace after voluntarily yielding to Army troopers in Arakan town of this province, a military official here reported Monday.
In a statement, Lt. Colonel Jose C Regonay Jr, commander of the Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB), said the two NPA rebels under Guerilla Front 57 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee voluntarily gave up on January 1, expressing new year hopes for a new life in the mainstream society.
Regonay identified them as “alias Kim,” a 22-year-old female resident of Lumbayan, Barangay Magsaysay, Kitaotao, Bukidnon; and “alias Roy,” 18, of Sitio Bayabas, Barangay Bonacao, San Fernando, Bukidnon.
The two told Army officials that they have witnessed and felt the sincere aspiration and commitment of the government to help them abandon the false NPA ideology and beliefs instilled in their minds by their communist leaders.
Both admitted they surrendered due to physical exhaustion, weakened party leadership, weakening of mass bases supporters, neutralization of high profile NPA cadres, false promises of the NPA leaders, and especially their isolation from their loved ones have led them to decide and pledge their full cooperation and support to the government.
Regonay urged other former rebels to convince their comrades who are still in the mountains fighting for false ideologies to peacefully surrender to the folds of the law and avail of peace initiatives of the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
“New year, new hope. Still, your government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will never get tired from reaching out and delivering the services intended for all of you,” Regonay said.
“Now is the time for all of you to be with your families and loved ones. Rest assured that 72IB is always ready to provide selfless service for the prosperity and peace here in North Cotabato and Bukidnon,” he added.
The Communist Party of the Philippines - NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (Edwin Fernandez)
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