TWO CADAVERS of the New People’s Army (NPA) members and firearms caches were recovered during the conduct of joint Armed Forces of the Philippines - Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) operation in the hinterlands of Barangay San Vicente, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur on February 16, 2020.
The location was revealed after seven members of NPA voluntarily surrendered to the folds of the law through the efforts of 26th Infantry Battalion, Police Regional Office 11 and 13 and concerned local government units.
Guilty conscience and realization pushed a certain Jason Alawayon alias Tiger, one of the former rebels (FRs), to reveal the location of the buried arms caches and cadavers of his comrades who were wounded and eventually died during the armed engagement with the government troops way back in 2017.
“Gikapoy na mi sa among kahimtang sa sulod sa kalihukan, lahi ra gyud sa kahimtang adtong sa gawasnon pa mi ug nagpuyo nga malinawon. Unya nakonsyensya pud mi sa mga pamilya sa among mga kauban nga namatay nga walay tarong nga paglubong, ug nagpadayon ang ilang pamilya sa paghuwat kung kanus-a sila mopauli (Our situation inside the movement is really exhausting, which is far different from our situation when we were living peacefully. And we felt guilty towards the bereaved families of our comrades who died without decent burial. Their families are still waiting for the remains to be brought back to them),” Alawayon said.
The operation also led to the recovery of two high powered firearms, an M14 rifle and a Garand rifle, including anti-personnel mine and assorted ammunitions.
Meanwhile, the two cadavers were only identified by their former comrades as “Ka Al” from Quezon, Bukidnon and “Ka Dope” from Cagayan de Oro City. Their remains were turned over to Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office for post mortem examination and future identification of their identities in order to inform their families and be given a decent burial.
On the other hand, Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Jimenea expressed his deepest sympathy to the families of the recovered NPA cadavers. “It is very regretful to think, that the life of our fellow citizens was wasted because of this deceiving propaganda of the terrorist NPA to join their false ideology in changing democracy into communism. This is not martyrdom as what CPP-NPA instills to the minds of their comrades and supporters. This is only a selfless pursuit of political ambition wherein their members and supporters are just sacrificial lambs,” he said.
“Hopefully, the outcome of this operation will serve as an eye-opener to all the remaining members, supporters and sympathizers of the CPP-NPA,” Jimenea added.
Likewise, Col. Allan D. Hambala, 401st Brigade commander, commended the efforts of the 26th IB and PNP in the success of the said operation. He further emphasized that the success was the result of a relentless intelligence operation and information drive with an effect of demoralizing the remaining members of the NPAs and later on decided to surrender.
“We have to strengthen our efforts in order to finally end this armed conflict. Remember that the local governments are already supporting us into the success of our goal through EO No. 70. Let’s all take advantage in making use of it against the communist-terrorists,” said Hambala.
“We are again appealing to all the remaining members of the NPAs to lay down their arms and be a law-abiding citizens once again. Your armed struggle had already brought numerous senseless deaths and miseries to the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos especially to the natives. Let us work hand in hand in pursuing lasting peace and sustainable development,” Hambala added.
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