By Jennifer P. Rendon
A former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel surrendered an improvised explosive device (IED) and a detonating cord to members of the Philippine Army’s Community Support Program (CSP) on Feb. 28.
The CSP is a people-centered program aimed at bringing peace and development to conflict-affected barangays. It is an initiative of state forces to bring the government closer to the people through the immediate delivery of basic services, especially to grassroots communities.
The Army personnel were conducting CSP operations in Barangay Santiago, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
The former rebel, identified only as alias Dok, a resident of Santiago village, disclosed that the IED was entrusted to him by Joven Ceralvo, alias Lex, and a certain Mr. Labinera.
Ceralvo, who was the second deputy secretary of the NPA’s Kometing Rehiyon-Panay (SF KR-P) Southern Front and the commanding officer of the Front Operational Command, Kometing Rehiyon-Panay (FOC KR-P), was killed in an encounter at Sitio Burak, Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao, Iloilo, on Dec. 1, 2021.
He had multiple criminal cases, including rebellion, frustrated murder, multiple attempted murders, robbery, and arson.
Brigadier General Michael Samson, acting commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, described the surrender of the explosive device as a significant development in the continuous efforts of the Spearhead Troopers and their partner stakeholders to encourage remaining communist terrorists to lay down their arms and reintegrate into society.
Samson commended alias Dok’s decision to voluntarily surrender the explosive device to authorities.
“This surrender is a testament to the success of our localized peace engagements and our commitment to ensuring a peaceful and conflict-free community. We urge other remnants of the NPA to take the same path and work with the government toward genuine peace and development,” Samson said.
He added that this action will inspire other members of the communist terrorist group (CTG) to abandon armed struggle, return to the fold of the law, and live peacefully with their loved ones.
