BANCASI, Butuan City – Another thirteen (13) rebels had yielded to the 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion under the operational control of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade last March 15, 2021 reaching the total CPP-NPA Terrorist (CNT) surrenderers to five-hundred sixy-seven (567) surrenderers in the 402nd Brigade area of responsibility.
The thirteen (13) NPA members composed of (12) members of the Guerilla Front (GF) 88 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) and one (1) member of the GF8 North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) voluntarily surrendered to the 26IB out of fear and hardships. They brought along with them thirteen (13) firearms composed of two (2) M16A1 Rifles, two (2) Carbine Rifles, two (2) Homemade Shotguns, one (1) KG9, one (1) UZI Cobray, three (3) Cal. 45 Pistol, one (1) Cal. 38 Pistol and one (1) Cal. 3516 Revolver together with assorted ammunitions, magazines and other war materials.
It can be recalled that four (4) CNT regular members and three (3) MBs led by alias Datu Hulas, 57 years old, Political Guide, Squad Uno, GF-4A, had voluntarily surrendered to the 23IB under the operational control of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade during the conduct of Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) immersion activity led by PPOC Chairman and Provincial Governor of Agusan del Norte, Hon Dale B Corvera, which was held at Sitio Bokbokon, Barangay Lawan-lawan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte. They brought with them one (1) M16 Rifle, one (1) Cal 9mm Submachine gun and one (1) Cal .45 Pistol.
As Brigadier General Maurito L Licudine, the 402nd Brigade Commander has said, eighteen (18) CTG members have surrendered to the Bde’s operationally controlled Battalions for this month alone, namely: the 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion in Agusan del Sur and 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion in Agsuan del Norte.
He underscored the cooperation of the IP leaders and the support of the Task Force ELCAC in the said municipalities that eventually encouraged the CTG members to abandon the armed struggle. “These surrenderers are the Brigade’s response after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered for a more effective implementation of the “Whole of the Nation Approach” through the NTF-ELCAC to provide all the necessary assistance to all rebels returning to the folds of the law which was reiterated during his visit in Cagayan de Oro City last March 5, 2021”, BGen Licudine said.
With the recent surrenderers, 402nd Brigade surrenderers accumulated a total of 567 former rebels since the start of PRRD’s term in 2016 consisting of 327 Regular NPAs and 240 Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members. Said surrenders were the result of the continuous and relentless efforts of 402nd Brigade and its OPCON Battalions thru focused military operations and the intensified campaign under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) as a way to enlighten and encourage more NPA members and their supporters to abandon the armed struggle.
BGen Licudine further stated that the Army together with other partner agencies will ensure that the FRs will receive their benefits and various after care services and interventions under the E-CLIP, “The recent surrenderers will be subjected to validation and certification if they are genuine members of the CTG. Out of the 567 FRs, 356 had already received their DILG Financial Assistance Package while 96 FRs were already enrolled and awaiting to receive their benefits under E-CLIP. As of this date, 115 FRs are undergoing the process of verification and enrolment to E-CLIP under the Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee (JAPIC) and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), respectively”.
“Our call to the remaining CTG members is to give peace a chance and end the violence. They must seize the opportunity that the government has been offering and lay down their arms. We will provide better opportunities for them to start their normal and peaceful lives anew with their families”, BGen Licudine said.
