By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – An alleged leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) based in Cauayan, Negros Occidental surrendered to the Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) Thursday, a press release from the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) said.
The 27-year-old Hinoba-an town native was a former platoon leader of the North Negros Front (NNF), and squad leader of the SYP/SDG Platoon, South West Front (SWF) operating in the area of Barangay Sangke in Hinoba-an town, the 3ID said in a statement.
He was recruited in 2009 when he was 16 years old and opted to join the armed struggle after believing that the group will resolve his social concerns particularly on land issues, the Army said based on the revelations of the rebel surrenderer.
He is the third NPA high ranking official who surrendered to the 15th IB in the province this month, according to the Army.
The Army said that “his surrender was a result of the unit’s effective Community Support Program (CSP) and triad operations to further pressure the NPA and their supporters in the province to end their useless armed struggle.”
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Cariño, 15th IB commander, in a statement said that they are happy about the surrenderer’s determination in choosing the right path towards peace by returning to the government.
“Finally, after many years he realized that the CNTs only used him for their self-vested interests, that he was swayed by the issues exploited by this Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA terrorist group,” he added.
“Along with the previous surrenderers, it was not too late for him to live peacefully with his family without any fear,” Cariño said, adding that the former rebel will also receive all the benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
He assured all surrenderers and those who will follow the precedence set by their comrades who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities that the 15th IB and the local government unit will work hand-in-hand to help them start a new life.
Hinoba-an Mayor Ernesto Estrao, expressed his gratitude to the former rebels for deciding to surrender to the government.
“As your mayor, I call on the other members of the CPP-NPA to lay down your arms and live a peaceful life with your respective families. I hope that more NPA members will be enlightened and turn themselves to the folds of the law,” Estrao said.
