By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Four firearms and three explosives were surrendered by three former rebels to the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental in the past months.
Two male rebel returnees turned over an improvised 5.56 mm with an attached shotgun, and a garand rifle. A female rebel returnee turned over a carbine rifle and shotgun, two rifle grenades, and a hand grenade.
Major Michael Victoria, executive officer of 62nd IB presented the firearms and explosives to Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Negros Occidental head Carmelo Orbista at the Nocppo headquarters here Wednesday.
Victoria, who thanked the police for assisting them, said there are more rebels who also wanted to surrender but they need more convincing by explaining to them the benefits and programs of the government.
He said the surrendered firearms were product of their intelligence efforts and continuous campaign against insurgency through their peace advocacy symposiums.
For his part, Baleros also expressed his gratitude to the efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for encouraging their friends from the other side to return to the fold of law by turning over these firearms to the government, and showing their commitment to support the government in maintaining peace in the province.
“This is a good indicator that our enemy is siding with the government, he added.
Baleros encouraged the authorities to continue their efforts to conduct not only tactical offensives but much more on information dissemination to explain to the members of Komiteng Rehiyon in Negros to go back to their normal life.
“We are here to bring peace that’s why we are encouraging the Negrosanons to support the provincial government by surrendering their firearms and go back to mainstream as members of the society,” he said.
Meanwhile, Orbista said the firearms will be turned over to the Firearms and Explosives Office at Police Regional Office (PRO) – 6 to facilitate the cost evaluation and to check if these can still be used or not.
If it can’t be used, no cash incentive will be given to a rebel returnee, he added.
Orbista also said they are planning to build a half-way house in the province to house rebel returnees while they are waiting for the completion of the assistance from the government before going back to their families.
