By Jennifer P. Rendon
There could be several possibilities that might happen for members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who continue to put up a fight with the government.
From all likelihood, it could only lead to death, Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police chief, said in a press conference on Wednesday.
Miranda made the statement following the surrender of an NPA member, who was only identified as Toto, to police authorities.
Miranda believed that Toto’s surrender and those rebels before him would result in more rebels quitting the NPA.
“Kasi kung hindi kayo mag surrender, habang buhay kayong makidigma sa gobyerno. Dalawang pupuntahan ninyo: mamamatay kayo sa pakikidigma, mamamatay kayo sa gutom sa bundok, mamamatay kayo sa hirap na dadanasin ninyo sa bundok,” he said.
Miranda said the rebels have been fighting a worthless battle for the past 52 years and yet nothing came out.
“Wala kayong maaaring puntahan kung hindi kamatayan or swerte ninyo pag namatay kayo sa COVID, mas madali. Sa bundok, puro kamatayan lang ang mararanasan ninyo,” he said.
Miranda has enthused the rebels to just “surrender to the government and you will be given a chance to live peacefully.”
“On top of that, the government will provide you livelihood and a chance for a new life,” he said.
Miranda said they recorded several surrenders made in the province of Aklan, Antique, and Capiz.
STRENGTHENING LEGAL OFFENSIVES
Miranda said the surrender of Toto could strengthen their legal offensives.
He said the surrenderers revealed relevant information that could help prosecute NPA members involved in previous encounters with government forces.
A native of Lambunao, Iloilo, Toto also brought with him his issued firearm – an M14 armalite rifle – and 82 rounds of ammunition when he surrendered to members of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID)-6 on April 10, 2020.
Toto was a Periodic Status Report (PSR)-listed Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) member.
He was an active member of Squad 2 SYP, Baloy Platoon, Central Front, KR-Panay.
A certain Eldie Labinghisa alias Itik recruited him in November 2016.
Labinghisa was one of the seven rebels killed in an alleged shootout with police in San Jose, Antique on Aug. 18, 2018.
Toto admitted joining at least 10 rebel attacks from 2018 to 2020.
NORMAL LIFE
Toto revealed that he decided to leave the movement to lead a peaceful life.
“I want a normal life and better future with my family. That’s what gave me the strength to leave the movement,” he said in vernacular.
He also recounts the hardships he went through while he was with the organization.
Toto believed that the government could deliver its promise about the programs anchored on
Executive Order No. 70 which aims to end the local communist armed conflict.
